The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has expanded its compliance checks on domestic automakers, signaling a broad and systematic industry-wide survey. On July 30 and 31, the MIIT's First Equipment Department conducted on-site inspections at Chery Automobile Co., Ltd., NIO Inc., and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp., Ltd. (JAC). The checks focused on product safety assurance capabilities and production consistency for road motor vehicles.
During these inspections, authorities examined the companies' intelligent connected vehicle safety assurance, design and development capabilities, and the maintenance of production consistency conditions. Random samples of vehicles and power batteries were collected and sent to relevant institutions for testing against national standards. This action follows a similar inspection just one week prior, on July 24, at GAC Aion and XPeng Inc. in Zhaoqing.
Initially, the inspections of Aion and XPeng were viewed by some as targeted "surprise checks" due to recent product quality issues at those companies. However, the inclusion of Chery, NIO, and JAC clarifies the MIIT's intent. This is a systematic "census" of the entire industry, with more automakers expected to undergo similar reviews in the future.
The MIIT has stated that it will continue to work with relevant departments to deepen the campaign for improving product consistency and quality. The body will also strengthen the access review and testing verification for "radical" innovative designs in automotive products. Automakers and motorcycle manufacturers are being urged to thoroughly investigate potential safety hazards, enhance product testing and safety assessments, and regulate marketing and promotional activities to uphold product safety and consumer rights.
The current competitive landscape in China's auto industry is intense, with rapid product iteration and a proliferation of new features, which has led to a rise in safety and quality concerns. For example, some GAC Aion AION S series commercial vehicles, equipped with specific lithium iron phosphate batteries, have reported issues such as cell bulging, electrolyte leakage, insulation faults, and a sharp decline in range after reaching 150,000 kilometers. In response, Aion extended the battery warranty for the affected models from 8 years or 150,000 kilometers to 8 years or 300,000 kilometers. Meanwhile, owners of the XPeng X9 have reported sudden failures of the air suspension system, leading to the vehicle sinking on one side or entirely. XPeng recently announced a recall for the affected vehicles.
In response to industry turmoil, the MIIT has deployed multiple measures this year to strengthen automotive safety governance. In May, the MIIT, together with the State Administration for Market Regulation and the National Fire and Rescue Administration, held a video conference requiring automakers and power battery companies to treat quality and safety as a "top priority," extending oversight from the vehicle to the upstream supply chain. That same month, the MIIT issued a notice to initiate the 2026 inspection work for production consistency of road motor vehicle manufacturers and products. On July 17, the MIIT's First Equipment Department held a symposium with key automakers, explicitly demanding that companies resist irrational competition, conduct thorough safety risk investigations, and strengthen safety assessments for combined driving assistance and autonomous driving functions. The symposium also emphasized enhancing capabilities in functional safety, safety of the intended functionality, cybersecurity, and data security.
The series of intensive inspections and deployments indicates that the focus of auto industry regulation is shifting towards a balance between "innovation and safety." It is highly probable that more companies will be brought into the inspection scope.