China is going from global EV boundary-pusher to global EV safety watchdog.
Regulators are targeting EV gimmicks like hidden handles, yokes, and reclining seats.
China’s rules could shape how future EVs are designed far beyond its own market.
Chinese car owners use and view their vehicles differently from people in the West. It is very common for passengers to take a nap in a moving car in China, which is why many vehicles offer heavily reclining seats that almost turn into beds. This might sound like a comfy way to watch the miles roll by, but it can also be a safety hazard in a collision, and now regulators are taking aim at these so-called ‘zero-gravity’ seats.
When you’re in a steeply reclined seat in a car and that car crashes, there is a very high chance that your seatbelt will not restrain you properly. You may even slip under the belt and miss the airbags, which are designed to deploy and protect occupants in a more upright seating position.
