Overview
- The two standards, GB 18384—2025 for vehicle safety and GB 38031—2025 for battery safety, took effect on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, and apply immediately to vehicles seeking new type approval.
- Manufacturers have a one-year transition for already type‑approved on-sale models, which must comply by July 1, 2027.
- For the first time the vehicle rule requires a physical one‑button high-voltage disconnect so drivers can mechanically cut the high-voltage circuit even if electronics fail.
- The battery rule raises thermal requirements from issuing alarms before fire to preventing fire or explosion during thermal runaway, mandates that smoke must not harm occupants, and adds new abuse and durability tests including bottom-impact, underbody scraping, and a 300 fast-charge-cycle endurance test followed by an external short-circuit check.
- Automakers including Geely, Chery and Changan have announced that specific battery lines or models completed the new-standard tests and offered warranty or buyback guarantees, while regulators say the rules are aimed at new production and do not force retroactive battery replacement for legally purchased vehicles.