China mandates regulatory approvals for autonomous driving software upgrades
Technology
China mandates regulatory approvals for autonomous driving software upgrades
BEIJING (Reuters) - Autonomous driving-related over-the-air software upgrades will be subject to regulatory approvals, China's industry ministry said on Friday, part of new regulations aimed at preventing automakers from using them to conceal defects or avoid liability.
Electric vehicle makers including Tesla and Xiaomi have used OTA upgrades to fix software bugs. Such upgrades are called product recalls under China's regulation, but it's often unclear if drivers might need, or would be eligible, to return vehicles to the automakers for refunds.
Those planning OTA upgrades to eliminate product defects and implement recalls should "immediately stop the manufacture and sales of defective automobile products," the regulation stipulates.
If changes to the main technical parameters are needed to fix the defects, automakers must obtain a license for the product change before resuming their production of the affected vehicle.
Automakers are banned from naming and marketing driving assistance systems with hints to consumers that they can be used as autonomous driving systems, according to the regulation.
They must also report to the industry ministry and the market regulator in case of driving assistance system failure or collisions and other accidents.
It further said it was helped by engine tweaks to ensure they can fly for longer before maintenance and it had secured improved contract terms.
