China is preparing new vehicle safety regulations that would effectively prohibit yoke-style steering wheels from future models, according to draft rules issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and first reported by Autohome. The updated standards are scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, and would apply to all newly approved vehicles.
The proposal updates steering safety regulations that have remained largely unchanged since 2011. Regulators say the revisions are necessary as electric vehicles introduce unconventional interior designs, including non-traditional steering controls. Under the new rules, steering wheels must pass impact tests at ten specific points around the rim—requirements that yoke designs, which lack a continuous upper section, cannot meet.
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Safety considerations appear central to the changes. Data cited in the draft indicates that about 46% of driver injuries in collisions involve contact with the steering mechanism. Conventional round wheels offer a larger energy-absorbing surface, while the open-top structure of a yoke may increase the risk of a driver’s head striking the steering column or dashboard during a crash.
The revised standard also introduces stricter criteria for steering column movement, limits on force transfer, and mandatory human-impact simulations that were previously optional. Additional testing aims to ensure steering systems do not create secondary hazards, such as snagging clothing or generating debris when airbags deploy.
Vehicles already approved for sale will be granted a transition period, allowing manufacturers time to redesign affected models. New vehicle approvals, however, would need to comply fully with the updated requirements starting in 2027.
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Yoke-style steering wheels gained prominence after Tesla introduced the design on the Tesla Model S and Tesla Model X in 2021. The potential ban may have limited impact on Tesla’s lineup in China if production changes proceed as planned, though other manufacturers experimenting with similar designs could be affected.
The proposed steering rules follow another recent safety initiative from MIIT requiring certain electric vehicles to include mechanical door release mechanisms, replacing fully electronic handles in emergency scenarios after reports of occupants being unable to exit vehicles following crashes.
