China raises the safety bar for EV batteries

China's EV market started July with tougher battery and vehicle safety rules. Electrive reported on July 1 that two new mandatory standards have entered into force: GB 38031-2025 for traction batteries and GB 18384-2025 for electric vehicles.

From warning to containment

The key change is the treatment of thermal runaway. Previous rules focused more on warning occupants before a serious battery event. The new battery standard requires manufacturers to prove that battery systems do not catch fire or explode after thermal runaway, and that released smoke does not create a hazard for occupants.

That is a significant shift for battery engineering. It pushes pack makers toward better cell isolation, venting paths, structural protection, detection logic and materials choices. The rule does not make battery incidents impossible, but it changes the expected failure behavior.

Why global buyers should care

China is both the largest EV market and a major export base. When its safety rules tighten, battery suppliers and automakers often adapt platforms in ways that can influence vehicles sold elsewhere. Higher safety requirements may add cost, but they can also improve confidence in lower-cost EVs that are entering export markets.

For EVRadar comparisons, this is another reason to track battery architecture, chemistry and safety claims carefully. A pack is not just a kWh number; it is a system designed to manage heat, abuse, crash loads and long-term aging.