08:00 AM EST, 02/28/2025 (MT Newswires) -- China will now require regulatory approval for over-the-air software updates for autonomous driving systems, Reuters reported Friday, citing China's industry ministry.

The new measures are designed to prevent automakers from using such updates to avoid liability or conceal defects, according to the report. Electric vehicle makers like Tesla (TSLA) and Xiaomi have used OTA upgrades to fix software bugs, Reuters reported.

Manufacturers addressing defects through OTA updates must "immediately stop the manufacture and sales of defective automobile products," the regulation stipulates, and secure approval for significant technical changes before restarting production, according to the report.

The rules also ban automakers from marketing driver assistance features in ways that could mislead consumers into thinking they are fully autonomous systems, Reuters quoted China's ministry as saying.

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