Despite the headlines, China is not banning one-pedal driving outright. What Chinese regulators have done is more specific and more nuanced. Under a new national vehicle standard called GB 21670–2025, one-pedal driving will no longer be allowed as the factory default setting on new electric and electrified vehicles starting January 1, 2027, as explained by SlashGear. Drivers will still be able to turn the feature on manually if the car supports it.
To understand why this matters, it helps to know what one-pedal driving actually is. In many electric vehicles, easing off the accelerator triggers strong regenerative braking. Instead of coasting like a traditional gasoline car, the vehicle slows aggressively and can even come to a complete stop without the driver touching the brake pedal. The system converts kinetic energy back into electricity, feeding it into the battery and extending driving range. For experienced EV drivers, it can feel intuitive, smooth, and efficient.
So why step in at all? The core concern from Chinese regulators is safety and driver behavior. Studies cited by regulators suggest that some drivers become overly reliant on regenerative braking and delay pressing the brake pedal in situations that require maximum stopping power. In emergency scenarios, that hesitation can matter. Strong regeneration is effective, but it is not always a substitute for full friction braking, especially at higher speeds or in sudden hazards.
This thinking is not unique to China. Some automakers, including Porsche with the Taycan, deliberately blend regenerative braking into the brake pedal itself rather than relying on aggressive lift-off deceleration. The idea is to keep braking behavior consistent and predictable, regardless of whether energy recovery is happening behind the scenes.
China’s new rules also include two related safety measures. Starting January 1, 2026, any electric vehicle that slows down using regenerative braking at more than 1.3 meters per second squared must illuminate its brake lights. This addresses a common complaint from drivers of conventional cars, who may not realize an EV ahead is decelerating rapidly if no brake lights appear. Making that slowdown visible reduces the risk of rear-end collisions.
Another provision requires all electric vehicles sold in China to be equipped with anti-lock braking systems. ABS has long been standard in many markets, but making it mandatory reinforces the emphasis on predictable, controllable stopping under hard braking.
Taken together, these changes are less about rejecting one-pedal driving and more about removing assumptions. Regulators are signaling that not every driver understands or expects aggressive lift-off braking, especially in a market where EV adoption is expanding rapidly. By preventing one-pedal mode from being the default, China is pushing manufacturers to ensure drivers actively choose it, rather than discovering it unintentionally the first time they lift off the accelerator in traffic.
For EV enthusiasts, the practical impact is limited. One-pedal driving is still allowed, still legal, and still selectable. What changes is the starting point. From China’s perspective, that small shift could reduce confusion, improve reaction times in emergencies, and make mixed traffic safer as electric vehicles continue to replace combustion cars at scale.