Safety China Regulates One-Pedal Driving and Makes ABS Mandatory

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China tightens e-car safety: From 2026, one-pedal driving may no longer be factory preset. Additional points concern the brake light and mandatory ABS (Anti-lock braking system).

Once praised by Tesla CEO Elon Musk as the "ultimate driving method of the future," enhanced recuperation enables acceleration and deceleration with a single pedal. In China, there is now pushback against the "one-pedal drive." In the latest national standard for brake systems (GB 21670–2025), this e-car feature is now subject to tight restrictions.

From 2026, new cars in China may no longer be factory-set to decelerate to a standstill solely by lifting the accelerator pedal—there must always be an alternative to this driving method.

With this regulation, the legislature in Beijing aims to enhance safety—after drivers repeatedly accelerated where they actually urgently needed to brake. The new regulation affects not only Tesla but all manufacturers of electric cars in China.

Out of Habit, the Wrong Pedal

China's regulatory authorities justify the revision of the standard with specific studies and accident analyses. These show that drivers tend to get used to hardly switching to the brake pedal anymore over time. The result: In emergencies, reaction delays can occur because the foot stays too long on the wrong pedal or even mistakenly continues pressing the accelerator pedal.

In fact, in recent years, there have been several puzzling accidents in China where drivers swore they had braked—yet the vehicle continued to accelerate. Subsequent investigations often revealed that instead of the brake pedal, the accelerator pedal was fully pressed.

Older drivers or those accustomed to traditional automatic transmissions particularly struggled with the unfamiliar driving feel of the one-pedal mode.

Tesla has Adjusted One-Pedal Driving

Tesla itself has recognized the risks. After several high-speed accidents occurred in China, authorities forced the manufacturer last year to conduct a recall and adjust its software.

Through an update, the hold mode was changed—instead of "Hold," "Creep" has been set as the default since then. This causes the vehicle to slowly continue rolling in the basic mode, requiring the driver to use the brake pedal for a complete stop—similar to conventional automatic cars.

The Key Points of the New Standard

The national standard GB 21670–2025 includes several technical regulations that will be implemented gradually. Some of the key points:

• Ban on one-pedal standard mode: From January 1, 2026, electric cars may not come to a standstill solely by releasing the accelerator pedal. In default mode, the driver must press the brake pedal to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. The one-pedal function itself remains permitted, but it may no longer be preset as the factory setting. Users can still manually activate “one-pedal mode” if they wish. There is a transitional arrangement for older electric cars that have already been sold. 
• Brake lights during heavy deceleration: If the system detects deceleration of more than 1.3 m/s² (approx. 4 ft/s²), the brake lights must automatically illuminate. This is the standard's response to the risk of “hidden” deceleration caused by brakes of this type, which previously occurred without brake lights and could cause rear-end collisions.
• ABS requirement: All new passenger car models in China must be equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) in the future. This long-established safety technology prevents the wheels from locking during emergency braking, thereby increasing stability and maneuverability. (For comparison: ABS has been mandatory in Europe since 2004 and in the US since 2011—China is now following suit.)

After a phased transition period, manufacturers must also adjust the default settings for existing vehicles via software update or recall.

Creep Mode to be Preset in the Future

In addition to Tesla and some Chinese manufacturers like Nio or Xpeng, European manufacturers also offer this "one-pedal solution," such as BMW in the i3. This is generally regarded as an "internationally established driving aid" and will not be completely banned, explained Cui Dongshu from the Chinese Automobile Association.

Tesla has already designed its current models so that customers can choose between different braking modes. In the recently refreshed Model 3, the "Creep" mode (roll/slow down) causes the car to slow down but not come to a complete stop when the foot is lifted off the "accelerator." In the "Hold" mode, full one-pedal braking is enabled.

This choice is not restricted by the new regulations—they only ensure that the safer mode will be preset in the future.

Standard Aims to Promote Safe Driving Habits

Officially, manufacturers remain calm. Tesla stated that it has not yet received any formal notification from the authorities and that all current models comply with applicable regulations.

Experts primarily see the new standard as an initiative to promote safe driving habits. Consumers can still freely choose their preferred driving mode, but the factory setting will now adopt a "Safety First" strategy. Some manufacturers had already responded when initial criticism arose: Tesla, for instance, removed the mandatory one-pedal driving option via an update in 2023 and provided users with more choices.

This approach—user choice with safety mode as the default—is now becoming a mandatory standard in China.

Brake Light During Recuperation

With GB 21670–2025, China reinforces its reputation for supporting technological progress in the automotive sector with clear rules. Notably, China's brake light regulation during recuperation potentially sets new standards for other markets as well—the problem of unlit deceleration affects electric vehicles worldwide.

Overall, the move is viewed positively for road safety in China's specialist media. It ensures that innovative operating concepts like one-pedal driving do not overly shape driving habits and that drivers remain capable of acting in critical situations. For Tesla & Co., this means rethinking the details but not abandoning the concept.

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