An EV illustration. Credit" The Paper Understand China EV’s Market Real-time notifications when critical EV data is released All important data in one place 2,000,000+ data points Become a member As the adoption of new energy vehicles (NEVs) continues to accelerate, China is set to implement two major mandatory national standards on July 1, 2026, aimed at addressing critical safety concerns. The standards, Safety Requirements for Electric Vehicles (GB18384—2025) and Safety Requirements for Power Batteries for Electric Vehicles (GB38031—2025), are designed to cover both vehicle-level and battery-level safety, as reported by a state news agency-owned newspaper, Economic Information. According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers released on June 10, 2026, China’s NEV market saw a recovery in May, with production and sales reaching 1.554 million and 1.496 million units, respectively. By the end of 2025, the national NEV ownership had reached 43.97 million vehicles. Enhanced vehicle and battery safety protocols The new vehicle standard introduces a mandatory physical “one-touch power-off” mechanism. This feature replaces previous software-dependent methods, allowing drivers to physically disconnect the high-voltage circuit from the energy storage system with a single action, thereby improving the reliability and efficiency of emergency rescue operations. The new battery standard raises the bar for safety performance. Key updates include: Thermal safety: Requirements have shifted from providing a thermal event alarm 5 minutes before fire or explosion to ensuring no fire or explosion occurs, while still requiring alarm signals. Additionally, smoke must not cause harm to occupants. Structural integrity: A new bottom-impact test has been introduced to evaluate the battery’s protective capabilities against underbody collisions. Durability: A new safety test following 300 fast-charging cycles requires that batteries remain free of fire or explosion during subsequent external short-circuit tests. Industry impact and outlook Experts quoted by Economis Information suggest these standards will accelerate industry consolidation, favouring compliant manufacturers and curbing vicious competition based on low-quality, low-price products. Dr Han Guangshuai from Tongji University noted that these regulations will also provide better benchmarks for used-car valuation and reduce insurance industry concerns, potentially resolving issues related to high premiums or difficulties in insuring used NEVs. Wu Kai, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chief Scientist at CATL, stated at the 2026 Equipment Power Forum that once these standards are fully implemented, the spontaneous combustion rate of China’s NEVs is expected to be an order of magnitude lower than that of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. Leading manufacturers have already begun aligning with these requirements. CATL reported that its full range of mass-produced passenger and commercial vehicle battery products passed the new national standard tests by May 2025. Similarly, BYD has confirmed that its second-generation Blade Battery has passed the new standards with performance exceeding the mandatory requirements. While industry analysts anticipate that the new standards may exert upward pressure on power battery costs – potentially impacting the pricing of new models launched after July – the final retail prices will depend on the specific cost-management and pricing strategies of individual automakers. Moving forward, government bodies, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the State Administration for Market Regulation, are continuing to coordinate efforts to refine safety standards, including the recent release of Fire Detectors for Vehicles (GB47497—2026), which focuses on early thermal runaway warnings for power batteries.
