Chinese automakers could soon develop entirely new cars in 18 months flat. Regulators worry shrinking development cycles could harm safety, durability. Western brands are copying China’s techniques to cut their 3 to 5-year cycles. For years, Western automakers have watched China develop new cars at astonishing speed and wondered how they could possibly keep up. But now Chinese manufacturers are getting so quick that regulators and some auto executives are wondering whether shaving months from development might also shave away important safety checks. China’s typical new-car development cycle is already around two years, versus roughly three to five for established Western automakers. But IAT Automobile Technology and the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reckon AI could help bring the Chinese benchmark down to just 18 months, Bloomberg says. Related: Chinese Brands Released 542 Models In Five Months. Even BYD’s Boss Is Rattled GWM Tank That speed advantage has become impossible for foreign automakers to ignore. In fact, they’ve begun to leverage Chinese know-how themselves. Renault developed its new Twingo E-Tech in China in only 21 months, while Volkswagen’s ID.UNYX 08, created with Xpeng, took 24 months. But China’s regulators – who have already tightened rules covering batteries, driver-assistance systems and door handles following fatal accidents – are increasingly interested in what happens when engineers keep pressing fast-forward. Authorities have launched a year-long safety campaign featuring unannounced inspections, while proposed rules would double mandatory road testing for new-energy vehicles to 30,000 km (18,600 miles), Bloomberg reports. The concern is that physical durability testing can’t always be compressed like digital development can. “Can’t Afford To Shortcut” Some Chinese auto executives agree, Bloomberg says. Chery vice-president Li Xueyong conceded that vehicles have to cope with different climates, roads and driving habits worldwide, and wrote on social media that “There are simply some development timelines we cannot afford to shortcut.” Slowing down won’t be easy, though. Consumers expect frequent launches and upgrades, while shrinking margins mean manufacturers can’t afford to fall behind. Geely chairman Li Shufu told Chinese broadcaster CCTV that asking companies to ease off might simply be unrealistic when everyone’s fighting to get ahead. AI should still let Chinese automakers move faster by accelerating jobs such as digital validation and checking thousands of components. But the industry’s next challenge is to work out where AI can safely save months and where old-fashioned miles still matter. Xiaomi, Chery
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