Smart Car Governance Strengthened! OTA Upgrades Require Reporting, Expert Says: Industry Is Gradually Maturing
According to the website of the State Administration for Market Regulation on August 14th, the "Notice on Strengthening the Supervision and Management of Intelligent Connected Vehicle Products" was released on August 13th, seeking public opinions. Among other things, it requires strict requirements for intelligent driving assistance in various aspects, including prohibiting the use of autonomous driving as a means of advertising and not permitting OTA upgrades without prior reporting.
Image source: State Administration for Market Regulation website
In response to the release of this notice, Stephanie Brinley, chief analyst at S&P Global Mobility, stated in an interview with Daily Economic News that in recent years, automakers' OTA upgrade strategies have shifted from rapid iteration to a more stable rhythm. By the end of 2024, some automakers were still able to maintain a software version update frequency of every two weeks, but by the first half of 2025, the industry's overall upgrade frequency has slowed down significantly.
"Now, automakers not only need to integrate software versions, but also submit complete software packages and functional explanations to regulatory agencies after each OTA upgrade, ensuring compliance. This marks a gradual maturation of the industry." Stephanie Brinley believes.
Clear Instructions for Intelligent Driving Assistance Are Required, and OTA Upgrades Must Not Be Done Arbitrarily
In April this year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released a notice requiring automakers to strictly test and verify autonomous driving assistance systems and clearly define their functional boundaries, laying the foundation for industry standardization. The "Notice" further refines regulatory requirements, marking a new stage in China's intelligent connected vehicle management.
According to an observer, the "Notice" requires automakers to provide clear instructions for autonomous driving assistance systems and functional explanations in vehicle apps, car information interaction systems, and user manuals; to develop safety-oriented features that closely monitor driver status and take graded warning measures; and to prohibit false or exaggerated advertising.
Notably, this "Notice" also specifies requirements for OTA upgrades, requiring automakers to strictly execute OTA upgrade classification management, not conduct unreported upgrades, not push untested software versions, and not hide defects through OTA upgrades.
In fact, in the context of intense competition for smart vehicles, OTA upgrade frequency has become an important indicator for automakers to measure their smartness. According to data from top OTA supplier Elara, "monthly OTA" or even "weekly OTA" is becoming a new normal, with 74 car brands having pushed out 290 software updates in the first half of 2024, covering more than 350 models.
Image source: Tesla App
According to feedback from various automakers, they are actively adjusting their strategies to adapt to new regulatory requirements. Li Li of NIO responded that the company will adjust its strategy according to specific requirements and report any updates to users through official channels in a timely manner.
Expert: Short-term Pressure, Long-term Driving High-quality Development
Zhang Yongwei, vice chairman and secretary-general of the Electric Vehicle Hundred-Person Association, pointed out that the global automotive industry has fully launched a smart vehicle competition. China is leading the world in the application of intelligent driving technology, with an L2-level autonomous driving penetration rate exceeding 50%, ranking first globally.
Entering 2025, the field of intelligent connected vehicles presents new development trends. On the one hand, automakers are accelerating the iteration of intelligent driving functions and upgrading, breaking down traditional market cognition that "intelligent driving equals high price". The industry generally views 2025 as a key turning point for the widespread adoption of intelligent driving technology.
On the other hand, user experience issues are becoming increasingly prominent, with a significant gap between technical development and actual acceptance by users.
The J.D. Power 2024 China Automotive Intelligent Experience Research report revealed that current intelligent driving technology applications have several outstanding problems. The report shows that most consumers face double barriers when using ADAS functions: a lack of understanding of the function's usage methods on the cognitive level, and design issues with functionality and stability affecting user confidence.
Image source: Tesla App
According to industry experts, the release of this "Notice" is significant. Li Fan of S&P Global Mobility analyzed that although the notice raises strict requirements for enterprises, including strengthening safety responsibilities, regulating technical verification and promotion, short-term pressure will be imposed on companies, but long-term development will promote algorithmic updates and technical maturity, driving high-quality industry growth.
Daily Economic News