In recent years, China’s electric vehicle (EV) industry has seen remarkable growth. However, as the features of smart and connected vehicles expand, quality and safety risks have become significant concerns.
On October 17, the Fourth China Automotive Quality Technology Conference was held in Liuzhou, Guangxi, organized by the China Consumer Products Quality Safety Promotion Association and co-hosted by SAIC Motor Corporation and SAIC-GM-Wuling. Industry experts engaged in discussions centered on the theme of “Quality Management in the Era of Electrification and Intelligence.”
With the rapid advancement of new energy vehicles, the number of vehicle recalls has also been on the rise. According to data provided by Xiao Lingyun, head of the Defective Product Recall Technical Center at the State Administration for Market Regulation, a total of 3,023 automotive recalls affecting 112 million vehicles have been implemented as of the end of September this year. Notably, from January to September 2023 alone, 181 recalls were conducted, impacting approximately 9.184 million vehicles.
Zhang Qinrong, chairman of the China Consumer Products Quality Safety Promotion Association, highlighted that as the number of electric vehicles increases, there is a troubling upward trend in fire-related incidents stemming from issues with power batteries and electronic control systems.
“Car quality and safety are essential prerequisites for the healthy and sustainable development of the automotive industry,” said Zhang. He emphasized that ongoing advancements in automotive quality technology are vital for ensuring these safety standards.
There have already been numerous explorations in terms of policy and industry responses. Li Chunjiang, deputy director of the Certification and Supervision Department at the State Administration for Market Regulation, noted that the government is making quality enhancement in the automotive sector a priority. This includes continuous reforms to the mandatory product certification system and implementing dynamic management of the CCC certification catalog, which will see high-risk products, like electric vehicle charging stations, integrated into the certification management framework.
Wang Xiaoqiu, chairman of SAIC Motor Corporation, stated that while the company is rapidly advancing in innovative technologies such as solid-state batteries, advanced driving assistance systems, and smart chassis, it is also focused on improving software quality management by leveraging digital technologies to enhance its quality management system.
Looking ahead, how can automotive quality and safety be further enhanced? Zhang Qinrong believes that companies need to increase their investment in research and development, particularly in core areas such as battery technology and autonomous driving algorithms. He advocates for the development of core automotive technologies tailored to the Chinese market and consumer needs, aiming to achieve the goal of becoming a quality powerhouse through independent technological advancements.
Ensuring product quality and safety increasingly relies on the role of testing and inspection for automotive products. Zhang Ying, deputy director of the Accreditation and Testing Department at the State Administration for Market Regulation, pointed out the urgent need to address the lack of testing standards for smart connected vehicles. He emphasized the importance of expediting the formulation and improvement of testing standards relevant to electrification, intelligence, and connectivity, while driving innovation in decision-making technologies to enhance the research framework for smart vehicles.
Li Chunjiang added that market regulation authorities will actively promote high-end quality certification, increase the supply of quality products, and foster bilateral mutual recognition. They will also explore innovative international cooperation ideas for quality certification, focusing on strengthening the construction and collaboration of international automotive product standards.