Chinese cars: after touchscreen displays, Beijing is now targeting reclining seats
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is assessing whether there are safety implications if one is not sitting in an upright position. Joysticks and large screens are also under scrutiny.
The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has highlighted the risks posed by reclining seats, particularly those in electric models. Having called into question retractable door handles – which are set to be banned from 2027 – the Ministry is now turning its attention to other features such as joystick steering wheels and large screens. This forms part of broader oversight by the Ministry of the rapidly expanding local automotive industry. In future, Chinese safety regulations are likely to influence the design of electric vehicles, not only on the Chinese market.
Concerns about reclining seats appear to be well-founded
China has helped to set new – and even extreme – trends in the electric vehicle sector, but now the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology appears set to take remedial action. Concerns regarding reclining seats appear to be well-founded, because in the event of an accident, passengers travelling lying flat are not fully protected by seatbelts and airbags, as they can slip beneath the seatbelt. In China, car manufacturers have, over time, transformed car interiors into veritable living rooms, to the extent that passengers are tempted to have a nap whilst travelling.
A public consultation has been launched, open until 25 July
The regulatory authority fears that future cars may become mobile relaxation pods rather than simply a means of transport. So much so that it has invited the public to share their views via a public consultation running until 25 July. As well as reclining seats, the concerns extend to joystick-style steering wheels and screens that are too large and are also used whilst travelling.
The Ministry has stated that it will consider other solutions, such as headrests, but not limited to these. The new regulations are justified by the many fatal accidents involving high-profile cars last year.
Retractable handles will be banned from 2027
Earlier this year, China banned retractable door handles after several incidents raised concerns about them failing to function properly during an emergency evacuation. It appears that a retractable handle even trapped the passengers of a burning electric vehicle. Joystick-style steering wheels are also under scrutiny: there are fears that drivers may struggle to regain control of the vehicle in an emergency. Single-pedal driving systems are also being assessed, as drivers may be too preoccupied with regenerative braking to react when they actually need to brake.
