New and updated Chinese GB Regulations are now published and ready for implementation. Now, vehicle lighting standards in China are grouped as in the UN Regulations:
• Road illumination Devices are covered by GB 4599-2024, corresponding to UN R149
• Light Signalling Devices are covered by GB 5920-2024, corresponding to UN R148
• Retro-reflective Devices and Markings are in GB 11564-2024, corresponding to UN R150
The new Chinese regs will enter force progressively from 1 July 2025 (fog, cornering, and position lamps) and will become mandatory on all new registered vehicles on 1 July 2028.
The change will dramatically affect the design of vehicles and their lights. And may request a re-design of some lamps already on the markets. For example, all headlamps will have to fulfil the new photometric grids, similar to UN R149/01, all rear main stop lamps will have to have at least 15 cm2 lit surface, and reversing lamps will have new requirements at 30° Down. The “n-1” light source failure rule has also been changed, incorporating the visibility angles.
Aside from new constraints, there are also new possibilities. Road projections have been added in the regulation, without limitations—there is no restricted list as in UN Regulations—and signalling road projections are allowed. For sure we will soon see road-projected turn indicators and reversing lamps in China; perhaps experience gained there will help guide and inform the relatively conservative EU regulators.
Interestingly, the turquoise Autonomous Driving Signal lamp has been removed from the final text. Investigation is ongoing for the moment to gain consensus in China.
Installation on vehicles now has to be clarified, because GB 4785 (corresponding to UN R48) has not yet been modified. This question will be addressed during the DVN Shanghai event on 4-5 December, with participation from CATARC and SMVIC experts.
