On 31 March 2026, the National Standardization Administration of China (SAC) approved 23 mandatory national standards projects. Among these, 4 projects in the areas of electric vehicles(EV), intelligent and connected vehicles(ICV), vehicle data, and lithium-ion batteries are particularly noteworthy, as they will replace existing voluntary national standards(GB/T) with mandatory requirements(GB).

Two of these standards – 20261952-Q-339 Coding regulations of lithium ion batteries & 20261955-Q-339 Post crash safety requirement for electric vehicle – are to be developed alongside parallel English translation projects, signaling an intention to facilitate international trade and cross-border applicability.

Key Mandatory Standards Replacing existing GB/T standards

20261952-Q-339 Coding regulations of lithium ion batteries is particularly significant. It reflects China’s regulatory response to emerging international requirements, notably those introduced under the EU Battery Regulation, including provisions on carbon footprint declaration, minimal recycled content, and the digital battery passport for lifecycle traceability.

The proposed standard will establish a unified coding framework applicable across a wide range of battery types, including consumer batteries, power batteries (both large and small), and energy storage systems. It will define coding rules for lithium-ion cells, modules, packs, clusters, and full systems, covering aspects such as coding structure, representation methods, and identification requirements.

According to the announcement, the parallel development of an English version underscores China’s recognition of the absence of harmonized coding standards for lithium-ion batteries at both domestic and international levels. Currently, no unified framework exists that spans different battery categories or lifecycle stages.

The English version is therefore intended not only to support international stakeholders but also to provide clear and consistent coding requirements for imported batteries circulating within the Chinese market.

For the second standard with a concurrent English translation project—20261955-Q-339 Post crash safety requirement for electric vehicle —the composition of the drafting group differs markedly from that of its predecessor voluntary standard. The current drafting team is limited to domestic stakeholders, namely CATARC, Geely, and BYD. This represents a clear contrast with the existing GB/T standard, which involved 10 drafting units, including 5 foreign-invested enterprises: FAW-Volkswagen Automotive, FAW Toyota, Volvo (APAC), Jaguar Land Rover (China), and Dongfeng Nissan. Notably, none of these foreign participants are involved in the development of the new mandatory standard, despite their prior engagement.

A similar pattern can be observed in the other two ICV-related mandatory standards. The project 20261956-Q-339 Intelligent and connected vehicle – Safety requirements for parking combined driving assistance system is led by CATARC, with participation from the MIIT Equipment Industry Development Center, state-owned OEMs such as SAIC Motor and GAC Group, as well as private-sector players including BYD and Huawei. By comparison, the corresponding voluntary standard previously included foreign-invested participants such as Mercedes-Benz (China), Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center, and Bosch Automotive Parts (Suzhou).

Likewise, the drafting of 20261957-Q-339 Requirements for vehicle data security is led by CATARC, with participation from domestic entities including Chery and FAW Group. In contrast, the earlier voluntary standard saw broader international participation, including Qualcomm (China), Mercedes-Benz (China), Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center, Volvo (APAC), BMW, and Volkswagen (China).

The latest batch of mandatory standards reflects China’s continued shift from voluntary (GB/T) to binding (GB) requirements in key automotive and battery-related sectors, alongside efforts to enhance international usability through selected English versions.

For EU stakeholders, the transition to mandatory standards may increase compliance obligations and reduce flexibility, requiring earlier adaptation in product design and certification planning. Areas such as battery traceability show partial alignment with the EU Battery Regulation, but differences in technical implementation may still create compliance complexity. The reduced participation of foreign-invested enterprises in drafting processes may limit early insight into regulatory developments.

European companies are therefore encouraged to strengthen monitoring of draft standards, engage with relevant Chinese technical committees and industry platforms where feasible, and assess impacts on data management, battery identification, and vehicle system compliance. Proactive alignment with both EU and China-specific requirements will be important to maintain market access and competitiveness. Meanwhile, SESEC will also keep tracking their developments and provide timely updates.

Source: https://www.samr.gov.cn/bzjss/tzgg/art/2026/art_75e1ce053ed44831befe6d2162bfa8d7.html