Recently, the Equipment Industry Development Center under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued the Notice on Conducting Safety Hazard Inspections for New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) in 2026, initiating a new round of nationwide special inspections targeting safety hazards in NEV products. The notice mandates that all NEV manufacturers complete inspections and submit their findings by August 31. This move comes just a week after a video conference on enhancing NEV safety management, jointly convened by the MIIT's No.1 Equipment Industry Department, the Quality Development Bureau of the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the Fire Supervision Department of the National Fire and Rescue Administration on May 14 (hereinafter referred to as the "Safety Management Video Conference").

This marks the most extensive and detailed safety inspection campaign organized by the MIIT since 2019, covering the broadest scope of areas to date.

▍Detailed Inspection Scope, Aligned with New National Battery Standards

According to information from the MIIT's official website, the Safety Management Video Conference discussed and outlined NEV safety management measures for the year. It underscored the need to treat product quality and safety management as a "top priority" and required vehicle manufacturers and power battery producers to take full responsibility for product quality and safety. The MIIT's inspection notice operationalizes the requirements set forth in the tri-departmental meeting into actionable plans.

The inspection encompasses all NEV manufacturers and products that have obtained market access, including existing NEVs from merged or restructured enterprises. The inspection content spans five key areas: product quality and safety, operational monitoring safety, after-sales service safety, safety accident investigations, and self-assessments of the new energy safety system. This comprehensive framework covers the entire lifecycle of NEVs, from R&D and manufacturing to operation and after-sales service. Product quality and safety inspections are prioritized, with a focus on power battery system safety and overall NEV quality. Particular attention is given to the functional safety and expected functional safety of combined driving assistance systems, as well as vehicle quality and safety risks under extreme weather or special operating conditions.

Regarding safety accident investigations, the notice imposes stricter reporting requirements. For ordinary fire incidents, companies must submit basic information within 24 hours; for accidents resulting in fatalities or significant social impact, within 12 hours. Detailed information, including monitoring data from the three months preceding the accident, must be submitted within five days for all incidents.

Crucially, the notice stipulates that if three or more fire incidents occur in the same vehicle model, companies must compile detailed information on the product configurations and technical features of the affected models, develop specialized safety hazard inspection plans, and implement corrective measures. For companies that fail to comply with reporting requirements, conceal information, or neglect to proactively address safety hazards, regulatory authorities will impose penalties based on the nature and severity of the violations. These penalties may include interviews, public notifications, orders for rectification within a specified timeframe, suspension or revocation of product announcements, and joint defect investigations and recall orders with the State Administration for Market Regulation.

This inspection is also closely tied to the forthcoming implementation of the mandatory national standard GB38031-2025 Safety Requirements for Power Batteries for Electric Vehicles. Scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, this standard is widely regarded within the industry as the "most stringent safety mandate for power batteries to date." Compared to the 2020 version, the new standard introduces several major technical upgrades. The most critical change is the adjustment of requirements following thermal runaway in power batteries, shifting from "providing thermal event alarm signals five minutes before fire or explosion" to "no fire or explosion (alarms still required), with smoke not posing a risk to occupants."

The new standard also introduces bottom impact tests and safety tests after fast-charging cycles. The former evaluates the battery's protective capabilities following bottom impacts, while the latter mandates that batteries undergo external short-circuit tests after 300 fast-charging cycles without catching fire or exploding. Data disclosed by the MIIT in the standard's preparatory notes reveals that as of February 2024, 78% of the 36 surveyed vehicle and battery companies already possess technical reserves for power batteries that do not catch fire or explode. An additional 14% expect to achieve this by 2026-2027, with the remaining 8% projecting compliance by 2030 or later. Professor Ji Xuehong from the North China University of Technology evaluated the new standard as "highly rigorous and scientifically sound," believing that the implementation of the "no fire, no explosion" requirement will address critical safety issues in power batteries.

▍Rapid Growth Brings Safety Challenges: Technological Upgrades and Compliance Efforts in Tandem

The launch of these inspections reflects the sustained rapid growth of China's NEV market. Statistical data indicates that by the end of 2025, the number of NEVs in China had reached 43.97 million, accounting for 12.01% of the total vehicle population. In 2025 alone, 12.93 million new NEVs were registered, representing 49.38% of all new vehicle registrations.

While the total number of NEVs continues to rise, structural shifts have emerged in the domestic market. In the first four months of 2026, domestic NEV sales reached 2.92 million units, down 20.2% year-on-year. Chen Shihua, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, previously stated, "Recent policy measures have sent positive signals that will help improve the domestic automotive market, consolidate foreign trade advantages, and promote stable industry operation and high-quality development." The downturn in the domestic market suggests a transition from rapid expansion to inventory adjustment, intensifying pressure on safety management for existing vehicles.

Notably, according to information released by the State Administration for Market Regulation, several NEV companies issued recall notices in April-May 2026. Geely recalled certain 2023-2024 domestic Polestar 4 pure electric models equipped with 86kWh power batteries due to manufacturing inconsistencies in high-voltage battery components, which could lead to abnormal increases in internal resistance and, in extreme cases, thermal runaway. Meanwhile, Dongfeng Nissan, FAW-Volkswagen, NIO, and other companies also initiated recalls to address safety issues in braking systems, protective devices, and other areas.

Leading companies have already begun deploying battery safety technologies that comply with the new national standards, making significant progress ahead of these inspections. CATL announced that it is the first company to pass the new national standards, with its first-generation No Thermal Propagation (NP) technology—proposed and mass-produced in 2020—achieving no fire or explosion. BYD's second-generation Blade Battery surpassed the new national standards in thermal propagation tests, maintaining stable insulation resistance values above technical specifications.

Geely's Shendun Short Blade Battery passed the world's first 5.8mm real bullet penetration test, with 23 tests exceeding national standard requirements. GAC Aion's Bullet Battery technology effectively enhances battery safety through an innovative "compartmentalized isolation" design and efficient thermal insulation and heat absorption layers.

However, not all companies can easily navigate this regulatory upgrade. For some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with insufficient technical reserves and limited financial resources, meeting the new national standards and completing comprehensive safety inspections and rectifications within a short timeframe poses significant challenges. The implementation of the new national standards will increase R&D and production costs, further straining SMEs already struggling with profitability.

The industry generally believes that this regulatory upgrade will accelerate industry reshuffling, concentrating market resources among leading companies. Companies that prioritize R&D and quality and possess core technological advantages will gain greater development space, while those lagging in technology and slow to adapt may face elimination.

Given the inspection notice's deadlines—new national standards taking effect on July 1 and inspection reports due by August 31—companies have only a two-month window to complete self-inspections and rectifications. For companies with extensive existing models and complex supply chains, tasks such as conducting after-sales inspections for vehicles from merged or restructured brands, reviewing situations with discontinued component suppliers, and verifying long-offline vehicles present significant time pressures.

Nevertheless, industry insiders note that the aggregated reporting of inspection results will provide a phased overview of the industry's safety status, making companies' actual investments and effectiveness in safety management more transparent.

Typesetting 丨 Yang Shuo Image source: Qianku Network