China introduces a new safety standard: yoke steering may be banned from 2027

China is preparing major changes to its automotive safety regulations. A new national standard designed to protect drivers from steering-related injuries effectively bans the use of so-called "yoke" steering wheels in mass-produced vehicles. The updated requirements could take effect as early as January 1, 2027, and will affect manufacturers of electric vehicles and innovative models.

Below are details of the new standard and its impact on the auto industry.

New Steering Safety Standard in China

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China has published a draft of the updated GB 11557-202X standard, which will replace the current 2011 regulation. The old standards no longer align with modern technologies, especially given the rapid development of electric vehicles and new types of steering systems.

The updated standard tightens safety requirements for the steering column and steering wheel in the event of a traffic accident. The document brings Chinese standards into line with international regulations, including UN requirements (Regulation R12), and introduces stricter tests for impact load and steering column displacement.

The main change is the elimination of exemptions from mandatory crash tests. Now, all vehicles must undergo steering mechanism injury safety tests without any exceptions.

Why “half-steering wheels” may be banned

The new standard effectively bans non-standard steering wheel shapes, including the half-round, top-less steering wheels popular with some manufacturers.

The document requires crash tests to be conducted on the steering wheel at ten key points, including structural weak spots. “Fork”- or yoke-style steering wheels lack some of these points, which means they will not be able to meet safety requirements.

According to statistics, about 46% of driver injuries in traffic accidents are related to the steering mechanism. A classic round steering wheel distributes the impact load more evenly, whereas semi-round designs can increase the risk of injury during secondary collisions.

Airbag Issues

Another important factor is how airbags function. The new standard prohibits rigid structural elements of the steering wheel from striking the driver’s face when an airbag deploys.

Semi-round steering wheels have a complex shape and may fracture unpredictably when the airbag deploys. This complicates testing and makes such designs less safe from the regulators’ perspective.
China introduces a new safety standard: yoke steering may be banned from 2027

Practical Challenges for Drivers

In addition to safety concerns, drivers report inconveniences when using non-standard steering wheels:

it is harder to steer the car with one hand;
difficulties with parking and making turns;
the need for larger steering angles in urban environments;
accidental touches of touchscreens while maneuvering.

Such steering wheels are suitable for race cars with a minimal steering ratio, but they are less convenient for everyday use.

When Will the New Rules Take Effect?

The standard is expected to take effect on January 1, 2027.

After that:

all new models will have to comply with the updated requirements;
existing models may be granted a transition period of about a year to adapt their design.

How this will affect automakers

The new standard may force manufacturers to abandon half-wheel designs and return to traditional steering wheels. This is particularly relevant for brands that are actively implementing innovative solutions in electric vehicles.

Tighter safety regulations in China could also impact the global market, as many manufacturers use Chinese standards as a benchmark when developing new models.

Conclusion

China plans to introduce one of the strictest steering safety standards. The new regulations could effectively ban semi-steering wheels in production vehicles starting in 2027.

The main goal is to improve driver safety and bring requirements in line with modern electric vehicle technologies and driver-assistance systems.

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FAQ

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After signing the contract for the selection of a car, our company asks you to make a refundable advance payment of $500, which is returned in full before the car is booked. Why is it needed? The Korean market is in great demand not only in Ukraine, but also throughout the world. The best cars are very quickly "taken apart" from sites and auctions. An advance payment is necessary in order to book a car in a timely manner and get the best offer.

For now, Ukrainian ports do not accept cargo, so all our clients' vehicles arrive at the port of Constantia (Romania). Bypassing delays in queues at the border, your vehicle will arrive quickly and without delays.

Car delivery consists of the following components: preparation of export documents and booking a place on a ship (from 2 weeks), land transportation of the car across Korea to the port of departure (up to 3 days), transportation by sea to a European port (from 60 days), delivery from a European port to Ukraine (up to 10 days). In total, delivery takes from 2.5 months.

Yes, it is possible. For example, OTP Bank is ready to provide a loan for the purchase of a car even to clients without official employment - an amount of up to UAH 300,000 can be approved without a certificate of income. The bank considers alternative sources of income and the borrower's credit history. In other cases, if you have an official salary card (especially in PrivatBank), you often do not need to confirm your income - the bank already sees the receipt. In any case, Bex Auto will help you collect the optimal package of documents or get by with a minimum number of them.

As a rule, the decision is made very quickly. Our partners have made the process as efficient as possible: PrivatBank pre-approves the loan a few minutes after submitting the application - you will find out the result almost instantly. OTP Bank in most cases issues the final decision and transfers the money within one day. In general, buying a car on credit through Bex Auto usually takes 1-2 days, including choosing a car, submitting an application and signing the contract.

The conditions vary depending on the bank and the program. OTP Bank does not have a CASCO requirement at all - you save on insurance, the bank does not oblige to insure the collateral, since the loan is actually unsecured. At PrivatBank, CASCO is required as standard for new cars, but with a down payment of 20-30%, insurance is not a mandatory condition (although the bank itself advises to insure the car voluntarily). Oschadbank always requires full CASCO, since it lends new cars with collateral. Thus, the presence of mandatory CASCO depends on the selected program: if you want to avoid insurance costs, consider options with a high down payment or a loan from OTP Bank.

Yes, you can repay your car loan early at any time without any penalties. All Bex Auto partner banks – OTP, Privat and Oschad – do not charge fees for early repayment. If you have the opportunity to repay the remaining loan early (partially or in full), do so without hesitation: the overpayment will be transferred only for the actual term of use of the borrowed funds. No penalties or hidden conditions – you save on interest by repaying the debt early.

Yes, of course. Bex Auto helps you buy a used car on credit as successfully as a new one. In particular, our partner OTP Bank specializes in used car loans - there are no restrictions on the brand, year of manufacture or mileage of the car. Moreover, no collateral or CASCO is required for such transactions, which distinguishes OTP's offer from classic car loans. You can choose a car at a car lot, a car dealership or even from a private seller - the bank will give you money to buy it. We also accompany the execution of the purchase and sale transaction and registration of the car in your name. If you want to import a car from abroad, we will offer a special program for a grace period (the first months without interest) - this allows you to calmly wait for your car and not pay extra.

The South Korean market is very full of diesel cars. The most popular cars among our clients are: Hyundai Tucson, Hyundai Santa Fe, Renaut (Samsung) Koleos (QM6), Hyundai Palisade, KIA Carnival, KIA Sorento, BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Audi A6, Audi Q7, Volvo XC60, Volvo XC90. Our manager will select the best car option for you according to your wishes.

The most popular electric cars from Korea among our clients are: Hyundai Ioniq 5, KIA EV6, Hyundai Kona, KIA Niro, Hyundai Ioniq 6, KIA EV9, Chevrolet Bolt. Also, the Korean sites are full of imported cars, such as Mercedes EQC, BMW IX, Audi E-Tron, Tesla Model S and others. The biggest advantage of electric cars from Korea is that the charging ports are identical to European ones, so you can quickly charge the car in any situation without any adapters.

Yes, indeed, official dealers have a wide range of Korean cars on the Ukrainian market, but they differ from Korean ones. For example, in Korea, the trim levels are very "rich". For the price that you will buy the maximum trim level from the official dealers, in Korea it will be the basic one. And the fact that in the Korean top trim level it is impossible to even imagine... Engine modifications, for example, Hyundai Tucson in Ukraine is offered only with a 2.0 l petrol engine, or a 1.6 l hybrid, where in Korea you can choose: 1.6 turbo petrol, 2.0 diesel, 1.6 hybrid. Also in Korea, there are many cars that have factory LPG, which is very economical to operate.

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