China is considering introducing mandatory in-car air quality regulations in order to protect the health of drivers. Such a move could conceivably increase costs for carmakers importing vehicles from markets without such requirements.
Interior parts suppliers could feel the heat too, as they would need to tweak their products in order for them to meet new in-car air quality rules, reports Autonews Europe.
According to officials, new models will be required to ace an in-car environment test, after their doors have been shut for hours. Regulators will then test the level of contaminants inside, including formaldehyde and benzene – said three people familiar with the matter, but who chose to remain anonymous.
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Chinese officials also want to look at electromagnetic radiation levels, considering how both electric vehicles and ICE-powered cars use more and more electronic devices inside.
While some people have gone on record expressing their concerns regarding radiation from these electronics, an official at the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said last year that such radiation isn’t harmful to humans.
Back in 2011, China’s environment and quality watchdogs came up with guidelines for passenger cars’ in-air quality, but at that point those standards were simple recommendations, nothing mandatory. Currently, China allows global brands to sell cars without any local certification for in-car air quality standards.
However, that could all change sooner rather than later. Take 2019 for example, when China accelerated an independently designed emissions standard for gasoline cars, after using EU emission rules for years.
