Cars with fully electric steering have been approved in China (2 photos)

The new regulations will only increase the earning potential of automotive electricians.





Cars that transmit power from the steering wheel to the wheels via wires, without a mechanical connection, have been produced for quite some time. However, Chinese industry regulators, driven by road safety concerns, have mandated the installation of a mechanical backup in case of electronic failure, as implemented on the Infiniti Q50, for example.

Technical progress and the desire to rid vehicle design of seemingly obvious archaisms have led to the emergence of a new standard for vehicle steering systems, which comes into effect on July 1, 2026. It eliminates the previous requirement for a steering column and allows for the use of full electronic steering technology, IT Home writes.

The code of practice describes detailed safety and functionality requirements for electronic and electric steering systems (SBW and EPS). Experts from domestic companies Nio, BAIC, Xpeng, BYD, Geely, Xiaomi, and Huawei, along with their colleagues from the Toyota and Mercedes-Benz China technology centers, participated in its development. It also introduces terminology and testing methods to ensure compliance with international standards such as ISO 26262.

To be fair, luxury cars with fully electronic steering have appeared in the country before, but now cars with steering-by-wire technology will also flood the mass market. Consequently, the after-sales service sector, including private service stations, will gradually be forced to adapt.