China Proposes Vehicle Modification Management Rules in Draft Policy

People's Daily reported that the First Equipment Industry Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released a draft regulation on vehicle modifications on the 13th to seek public opinions. The draft policy proposes classified management for domestic vehicle modifications and proposes establishing modification archives under a one-vehicle-one-file approach. To build a sound vehicle modification management system, expand automotive aftermarket consumption, and promote healthy development, relevant departments researched and drafted the proposed management measures. Under the proposed measures, modification project lists would be formulated by class and updated progressively. Class one vehicle modifications would cover non-safety and non-environmental alterations such as vehicle body color, interior and exterior decorations, and exterior structural components. Motor vehicle owners could carry out these proposed class one modifications independently or entrust them to modification enterprises. Class two vehicle modifications would cover functional changes affecting general vehicle safety and environmental performance, such as modifications to braking systems and suspensions. The draft measures propose that class two projects must obtain authorization from automobile enterprises, which would bear primary responsibility for the quality and safety of modified vehicles.

Under the draft proposal, automobile enterprises would bear primary responsibility for the quality and safety of modified vehicles undergoing class two functional modifications. Systems and components would need to meet technical standards, some would require certification or market access permits, and high-impact modifications would require testing by national testing institutions.