China evaluates new safety measure targeting rapid acceleration

China eyes new rapid acceleration rule

In November 2025, China’s Ministry of Public Security published a consultation draft of a national safety standard that requires passenger cars to default to a mode where acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes no less than five seconds; faster performance may still be available in non-default modes.

This measure is designed to mitigate risks associated with supercar-level acceleration in everyday driving. Regulators emphasize that performance modes will still be allowed, but the baseline startup behavior must prioritize safety.

New EVs are becoming too fast

Several 2025 EVs demonstrate extreme acceleration. Zeekr quotes the 001 AWD at 3.3 seconds 0–100 km/h, while the 001 FR claims 2.02 seconds (with rollout).

An independent proving-ground ADAS evaluation (Dongchedi) logged 216 test collisions across 36 vehicles in 15 scenarios. Regulators cite these figures as evidence that performance levels are exceeding safe city driving standards.

The plan uses intelligent acceleration control

The draft rule requires cars to start in a default safe mode that limits acceleration to at least 5 seconds for the 0–100 km/h range. This ensures smoother launches in urban areas without banning high‑performance driving entirely.

Officials clarified the requirement is about the startup default mode, not geofencing. Regulators emphasize that this balance strikes a balance between safety and consumer expectations for performance.

Why instant electric torque is a problem

Electric motors deliver maximum torque instantly at zero rpm, unlike gasoline engines that must rev to build power. This immediate surge can surprise drivers and cause unintended rapid acceleration.

Safety reviews in 2025 emphasize the need for torque management and calibrated pedal maps to prevent crashes in dense traffic. Regulators argue that default acceleration limits are one way to mitigate these risks.

China’s MIIT and regulators coordinating the rule

While the acceleration draft originates from the Ministry of Public Security, China’s MIIT, and SAMR issued a notice in February 2025, strengthening rules on product admission, recalls, and OTA software governance. These agencies work closely with automakers to implement safety features at a large scale.

Industry consultations in late 2025 will involve major carmakers such as Tesla, BYD, and Geely. Regulators are working to ensure acceleration limits do not undermine the driving experience.

Cars like the Zeekr 001 FR are the target

The Zeekr 001 FR showcases the performance regulators are aiming for. It utilizes four motors, producing 930 kW (1,248 hp), and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just over 2 seconds, faster than nearly any gasoline-powered car.

Officials argue that such hyper‑fast EVs pose safety risks on busy public roads. The proposed rule aims to moderate startup acceleration without eliminating advanced performance capabilities.

Geofencing limits the acceleration

China’s Nov 2025 draft rule requires cars to start in a default mode where 0–100 km/h takes at least 5 seconds. This is a baseline startup requirement, not a geofenced GPS system. Regulators clarified that the rule does not ban fast cars but ensures safer default behavior.

Earlier speculation about geofencing was corrected in official statements. The verified proposal is a default startup acceleration cap, meaning performance modes remain available when drivers deliberately select them.

Tesla and BYD must change their software

If adopted as drafted, the requirement would apply to all automakers, who would need to ensure that the default acceleration map complies after startup; some vehicles may require software calibration updates.

Performance modes will still be allowed, but they must be activated manually. This ensures consistent safety standards while preserving high‑performance options for drivers.

This rule helps protect pedestrians

The regulation is framed as a general measure to enhance road safety. By moderating default acceleration, it reduces risks of unintended rapid launches in crowded urban areas where reaction times are critical.

China’s 2025 ADAS safety test reported 216 crashes across 36 cars in 15 hazard scenarios, underscoring the dangers of excessive acceleration in complex traffic. Regulators cite these findings as justification for safer startup behavior.

The push for driver controlled limits

Coverage of the draft focuses on a mandatory default startup mode; it does not specify acceptance or rejection of brand-specific ‘City Mode’ proposals.

Performance modes remain available, but only when deliberately engaged. Regulators argue this balances safety with consumer expectations while preventing lapses in driver judgment.

How this impacts the U.S. car market

The rule is China-specific, but global regulators are closely watching it. Neither the U.S. nor the EU is proposing acceleration caps; 2025 actions focused on AV frameworks/AEB (U.S.) and Euro 7 & emissions/safety rules (EU).

While no U.S. acceleration cap exists, China’s default‑mode rule could influence future debates on managing EV performance in dense traffic.

The challenge is to keep the fun feeling

Automakers face the challenge of preserving EV excitement while complying with safety rules. Engineers are fine-tuning pedal maps to ensure a smooth transition into default mode, thereby avoiding abrupt power cuts.

Regulators confirmed that performance modes remain available. This ensures EVs retain their appeal while aligning everyday startup behavior with safer acceleration profiles.

Curious which China-built cars are starting to make waves globally? Tap here to explore the models grabbing attention.

A new era of smart safety controls

China’s draft marks a shift toward software‑based safety regulation. By mandating default startup limits, regulators are using code rather than hardware to manage vehicle performance.

This approach reflects a broader 2025 trend: governments adopting software controls to regulate powerful EVs. The rule signals how future safety standards may evolve globally.

Want to see how China is expanding its tech strategy even further? Check out our look at how the country is turning to Europe for self-driving growth.

Do you think software-based rules are the future of EV safety? Share your thoughts in the comments and drop a like if this caught your attention!

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This slideshow was created with the assistance of AI and human input.