ChinaSeveral Chinese brands, including Li Auto, Aito, XPeng, Nio, BYD, and Xiaomi, fit small blue lights on the outside of their cars that switch on when an L2 or L2+ driver-assistance system is active. China’s regulator is now banning them.
The formal reason is a conflict with GB 4785-2019, the mandatory national standard for exterior automotive lighting, which permits only white, red, yellow, and amber for that purpose. Regulators also point to a lack of unified rules on the lights’ brightness, hue, and placement, which on some vehicles risks distracting other road users or being mistaken for a different signal.
The ban is part of a broader tightening of rules around autonomous-driving technology in China. Authorities have already restricted the use of terms like “autopilot” and “autonomous driving” in advertising, and tightened testing and over-the-air update requirements for driver-assist systems.
According to Chinese media, new models fitted with the blue lights have been unable to pass certification since 27 July 2026. The regulator has not yet said what, if anything, will be required of cars already on sale with the feature.
