China's draft control-markings standard would take ADAS activation off the touchscreen

China’s industry ministry opened public comment on September 24 on the approval draft of GB 4094, the mandatory national standard covering the symbols on vehicle controls, indicators and tell-tales. The draft replaces the 2016 edition, carries plan number 20253207-Q-339 and applies to M and N category vehicles. Comments close on October 8.

Clause 4.1.11 lists nineteen functions that must have a physical control wherever the vehicle has the function. Alongside the horn, hazard lights, wipers, window lifts and the transmission positions sits the activation control for a combined driving assistance system, which the draft defines as one performing sustained lateral and longitudinal control, in basic single-lane, basic multi-lane and navigation-assisted categories. Low beam and the front and rear position lamps may stay virtual if they default to automatic control at every power-up.

Clause 4.1.12 sets what physical means. Each of those controls needs a power circuit and a control or sensing channel independent of the in-vehicle display, and triggering the function must not involve the display at all. The control needs a fixed position and an effective operating surface of at least 10mm by 10mm, or tactile identification, plus tactile or audible feedback.

The drafting explanation gave the reasoning. Head units in daily use still suffer freezing, black screens and lag, it said, so main functions should be completed through controls that can be operated without looking and should not depend on the screen’s own reliability and circuits.

The accompanying summary table suggests July 1, 2027 for implementation. The two clauses apply to newly type-approved models from the thirteenth month after that date, and to already approved models from the nineteenth.