The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has released a draft standard for vehicle lighting systems. It proposes designating turquoise as the official color for marker lights on vehicles equipped with Level 3 or higher automated driving systems. These lights would activate automatically when the system is engaged and deactivate when it is turned off.
Installation of these marker lights will remain optional for eligible vehicles. The draft also introduces strict prohibitions on external light displays, banning the use of text, human or animal faces, and anthropomorphic patterns. Illuminated logos remain the only exception to these new visual restrictions.
The proposal further restricts vehicle interaction features by banning gesture controls for specific lights and requiring manual switch indicators for voice-activated lighting. It also mandates that variable-intensity signal lights adjust brightness across the entire lamp surface rather than toggling individual light sources.
The government has opened a public consultation period for these standards, which is scheduled to conclude on December 19. If approved, the new regulations are expected to take effect on January 1, 2028. The draft includes transition periods of up to 48 months for certain technical requirements.
