New National Standard for AEB Set to Enhance Automotive Safety by 2028

In a year of significant policy changes, new automotive regulations continue to emerge, focusing on vehicle safety. Among these, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has recently sought public opinion on six new national standards, including the technical requirements and testing methods for Automatic Emergency Braking Systems (AEB). This new standard upgrades AEB from a recommended guideline to a mandatory national standard, set to replace the current standard GB/T 39901-2021, with implementation scheduled for January 1, 2028. This means that starting in 2028, new vehicles without AEB will no longer be eligible for sale. The AEB system is a proactive safety technology that uses perception devices such as lidar, millimeter-wave radar, or ADAS cameras to detect potential collision risks with vehicles, pedestrians, or other road users, automatically triggering brakes to avoid or mitigate collisions. Under the current standard, AEB is not mandatory, classified as a recommended specification. The new standard introduces significant upgrades in safety requirements, mandating the installation of AEB in a wider range of vehicles, including M1 (passenger vehicles) and N1 (light commercial vehicles), thus expanding the coverage of AEB-equipped vehicles. The new standard also increases the testing requirements for recognizing vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, and introduces new testing scenarios, including complex situations like intersections and right-turning vehicles. It sets speed activation thresholds for AEB systems in M1 vehicles at speeds ranging from 10 km/h to 80 km/h, and for N1 vehicles at 10 km/h to 60 km/h, enhancing the overall performance and safety of the system. Additionally, the new standard does not mandate specific sensor configurations for AEB systems, allowing for flexibility in technology deployment. The ongoing debate about the optimal AEB technology route, whether it be millimeter-wave radar, vision-based systems, or multi-sensor fusion, underscores the importance of safety as the ultimate standard. With the potential to dramatically reduce accident rates, particularly in a country like China with a high vehicle ownership rate and dense population, the implementation of AEB could save countless lives. As the industry prepares for the 2028 deadline, the expectation is that nearly all vehicles will come equipped with AEB, enhancing safety equity across various vehicle price segments. The overarching goal of the new standard is to ensure that safety becomes a universal standard across the automotive industry, ultimately benefiting all road users.