(Yicai) April 17 -- Chinese regulator has banned carmakers from exaggerating the capabilities of assisted driving systems amid the widening popularization of smart driving in mainstream models.

Automakers must rigorously test and verify driver assistance functions, clearly define system limitations and safety protocols, and ensure consumers are accurately informed—without exaggeration or false advertising, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced on its website after a meeting held yesterday, attended by nearly 60 representatives from the ministry and major auto manufacturers. The ministry heard car companies' suggestions at the meeting that aimed to advance access to smart car features and optimize over-the-air software updates.

Since last year, intelligent driving systems have gained significant traction among Chinese automakers, often accompanied by high-profile accidents. One of the most severe recent incidents occurred in late March, when a Xiaomi SU7 collided on a highway and caught fire, killing all three occupants.

Xiaomi reported that the vehicle was operating in navigate-on-autopilot mode at a speed of 116 kilometers per hour. After the system detected a construction barrier and issued a deceleration warning, the driver manually took over and slowed the vehicle to 97 kilometers per hour but failed to avoid the obstacle.

Following the crash, industry insiders noted that Xiaomi had promoted the SU7 as featuring "first-tier intelligent driving technology in China." However, the vehicle relies solely on a pure-vision system without LiDAR, which likely limited its ability to detect temporary roadblocks.

The adoption of intelligent driving is inevitable, Zhao Chunzhang, head of the automotive industry at consulting firm RIES, told Yicai previously. This technology will gradually expand from high-end vehicles to more affordable models, Zhao added.

However, Zhao also warned that some companies have employed overly aggressive marketing strategies in a bid to gain competitive advantage—an approach that carries serious safety risks.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Emmi Laine