China is tightening regulations on battery-powered vehicles and will require its automakers to comply with higher battery safety standards, aiming to reduce risks of fire and explosions in the fast-growing sector.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Monday issued a set of technical standards for the batteries in electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, which make up more than half of new car sales in the country.
The rules set out stricter mandatory tests which will require companies to ensure their batteries won't catch fire or explode in tests with a specified time period, seeking to reduce risks for drivers, passengers and surrounding properties due to what is termed "thermal runaway", the most common cause of battery-related fire.
The standards, said to have been approved by regulators in March but not publicly available until now, are to be implemented from July 2026. They update a current version dating from 2020 that mandates a five-minute warning if an EV is at risk of catching fire.
They also add new tests relating to crash impacts and tolerance of fast charging.
Sales of EVs and plug-in hybrids, known collectively as new energy vehicles (NEVs), have been outselling gasoline cars intermittently on a monthly basis in China since last year. This far exceeds Beijing's goal set up in 2015 for NEV sales to make up 20% of total sales by 2025, which was revised five years later to more than 50% by 2035, thanks to government policy support over more than a decade.
A CCTV report in June 2024 said the chances of EVs and hybrids catching fire were lower than gasoline vehicles, despite social media boosts of unverified fire accidents involving NEVs being common in China.
A fatal crash in March involving a sedan made by Xiaomi (1810.HK), opens new tab - which caught fire after hitting a roadside pole at a speed of 97 km/h, with its advance driving assistance system switched on - triggered wide discussions about EV safety in China.
With rising global tensions and growing risks to shipping, China is reshaping its trade strategy by constructing a new railway to Europe — one that deliberately avoids its close ally, Russia.
China’s Shenzhen Hasee Computer Co. is considering launching laptop manufacturing operations in Azerbaijan, following key talks with local investment authorities.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has urged Japan to join forces with Beijing in countering U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff measures, highlighting growing concern over Washington's protectionist policies.
On April 22, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived in the People's Republic of China.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday stated his readiness to negotiate with Russia “in any format” once a ceasefire takes effect. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly proposed halting his invasion at the current front lines, according to the Financial Times.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly suggested halting his invasion at current front-line positions as part of a peace initiative with U.S. President Donald Trump.
U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, is traveling to Moscow this week for renewed peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The White House confirmed Tuesday that Witkoff will attempt to advance negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
With rising global tensions and growing risks to shipping, China is reshaping its trade strategy by constructing a new railway to Europe — one that deliberately avoids its close ally, Russia.
Toyota has signed a $2 billion deal to build a wholly-owned electric vehicle plant in Shanghai, as the Japanese automaker strengthens its position in China’s growing EV market during heightened US-China trade tensions.
The Holy Fire ceremony stands as one of Christianity's most enduring and mysterious rituals, drawing thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem each year.
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Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 16th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope and a transformative figure in the Roman Catholic Church, has passed away at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed in a video statement on Monday.
Toyota has signed a $2 billion deal to build a wholly-owned electric vehicle plant in Shanghai, as the Japanese automaker strengthens its position in China’s growing EV market during heightened US-China trade tensions.
The IMF has lowered global and U.S. economic growth forecasts, citing Trump-era tariffs and rising uncertainty. Global growth is expected at 2.8% this year, while U.S. growth may slow to 1.8%, with heightened recession and inflation risks.
The 18th meeting of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation between Iran and Russia is scheduled to take place in Moscow from April 23 to 25. The event aims to strengthen bilateral collaboration across a wide range of sectors.
The Russian rouble surged past 81 to the U.S. dollar on Thursday, marking a 40% increase since the beginning of 2025.
In response to President Donald Trump's sweeping new tariffs, a number of global companies are eyeing expansion into the United States to minimize the economic fallout from the trade measures.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday stated his readiness to negotiate with Russia “in any format” once a ceasefire takes effect. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly proposed halting his invasion at the current front lines, according to the Financial Times.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly suggested halting his invasion at current front-line positions as part of a peace initiative with U.S. President Donald Trump.
U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, is traveling to Moscow this week for renewed peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The White House confirmed Tuesday that Witkoff will attempt to advance negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
With rising global tensions and growing risks to shipping, China is reshaping its trade strategy by constructing a new railway to Europe — one that deliberately avoids its close ally, Russia.
Toyota has signed a $2 billion deal to build a wholly-owned electric vehicle plant in Shanghai, as the Japanese automaker strengthens its position in China’s growing EV market during heightened US-China trade tensions.
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