Gasgoo Munich- Starting July 27, 2026, newly certified passenger cars in China will be barred from featuring external "little blue lights" for intelligent driving. The reason is that these blue exterior lights do not comply with color restrictions set by the mandatory national standard GB 4785. Geely responded that it is aware of the regulatory requirements and will fully comply with the national standards as they are implemented, while awaiting complete guidance from regulators.
Requirements for these blue lights date back to a 2021 draft revision of "Light-signaling devices and systems for motor vehicles and trailers." Appendix D of the document specifically added rules for ADS indicator lights, designating this blue lighting as an exclusive feature for Level 3 and higher autonomous driving models. Only high-level autonomous vehicles in categories M and N were permitted to carry them, with the draft also establishing full usage standards for chromaticity and light distribution.
However, when that draft was finalized as GB 5920-2024, it omitted clauses regarding the ADS blue lights. Consequently, the previously planned regulations for blue lighting never officially entered into force.
Currently, the mandatory national standard governing vehicle exterior lighting in China is GB 4785. This standard limits exterior lights on civilian vehicles to just three colors: white, red, and amber yellow. External blue lights are prohibited for conventional vehicles.
With Level 3 autonomous driving not yet commercialized at scale in China, the vast majority of vehicles on the market equipped with these blue lights actually only feature Level 2+ driver-assistance systems. Automakers have been adding blue lights to follow the trend, a move that not only violates existing lighting regulations but also risks confusing other road users about the level of autonomous capability. This creates safety hazards by equating driver assistance with high-level autonomy, while also opening the door to exaggerated marketing claims.
A lighting supplier told Gasgoo that the new regulation will have limited actual impact. The adoption cycle for the blue lights has been short and their overall output value is low. Additionally, with the policy providing a transition period, manufacturers only need to remove the relevant hardware from newly designed products, keeping overall adjustment costs manageable.
The pressure is falling more heavily on upstream LED manufacturers. Many companies invested capital specifically to adapt to the blue lights, funding the development of customized light beads and specific color variations, as well as modifying production line equipment. Those early investments now face potential losses. However, since the scale of investment for most companies was relatively small, the overall losses remain within an acceptable range.
