Domestic News - The Supreme Court of China clarified that the driver remains the primary responsible party even when using advanced driver-assistance systems, emphasizing that activating such systems does not absolve the driver of their responsibilities [2] - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has proposed a new national standard that removes all technical content related to half-width steering wheels, indicating that such designs will not receive official support in the short term [3] - SAIC Motor Corporation announced plans to establish a private equity investment fund with an initial subscription size of 2.5 billion yuan, focusing on solid-state batteries, digital chassis, and AI technologies [4] - Lantu Automotive plans to list approximately 885.38 million H-shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on March 19, 2026, through an introduction method [5] - Zeekr has established a new sales service company in Shenzhen with a registered capital of 10 million yuan, focusing on the sale of new energy vehicles and related components [6] - GAC Trumpchi has launched a global naming campaign for its new rugged off-road vehicle, which is designed for various environments [7] - CATL and Chery Automobile have jointly established a new company with a registered capital of 2 billion yuan, focusing on battery manufacturing and sales [8] - Great Wall Motors' new parts factory in Tianjin is set to begin production in March 2026, with an investment of 1.153 billion yuan and an expected annual output value of approximately 3 billion yuan [9] International News - U.S. tariffs have caused Japanese automakers to lose approximately 137 billion yen (about 1.37 billion USD) in operating profits, significantly impacting their financial performance [11] - Global electric vehicle registrations saw a slight decline of 3% year-on-year in January 2026, totaling around 1.2 million units, attributed to changes in subsidy policies in China and the U.S. [12] - Vietnam's new car sales surged by 90% year-on-year in January 2026, reaching 29,774 units, despite a 30% decline from the previous month [13] - Baidu and Uber are set to launch an autonomous ride-hailing service in Dubai, aiming to support the government's goal of achieving 25% of trips via autonomous vehicles by 2030 [14][15] Commercial Vehicles - Chery's Wuling brand has launched the R08 EV, which has sold over 10,000 units in three months, emphasizing its cost-effectiveness and global market strategy [16] - New regulations for the TIR convention have been implemented to streamline cross-border road transport, enhancing efficiency while tightening compliance requirements [17] - In January 2026, Shenzhen's functional autonomous vehicles completed 2.42 million delivery orders, marking a 29% increase in operational efficiency [18] - XCMG showcased its pure electric dump truck at a green mining exhibition in Southeast Asia, designed for high-intensity operations in challenging environments [19]

Core Viewpoint - The Supreme People's Court has issued its first set of guiding cases on road traffic safety criminal law, emphasizing that the driver remains responsible for ensuring safety even when using advanced driver assistance systems [1] Summary by Sections Basic Case Facts - On September 13, 2025, the defendant Wang Mouqun drove under the influence of alcohol, activating the car's driver assistance system while seated in the passenger seat, using an illegal device to bypass system monitoring [2][3] Court Ruling - The Hangzhou Linping District People's Court sentenced Wang Mouqun to one month and fifteen days of detention and a fine of 4,000 RMB for dangerous driving [4] Rationale for Judgment - The court determined that Wang Mouqun was still the responsible driver despite activating the assistance system, as it does not replace the driver but rather assists them. His actions of moving to the passenger seat and using an illegal device constituted a violation of driving responsibilities [5][6] - Wang Mouqun's blood alcohol content was measured at 114.5 mg/100 ml, qualifying as drunk driving under Chinese law, and his prior record of similar offenses influenced the severity of the ruling [6]

Core Viewpoint - The Supreme People's Court has released its first set of guiding cases on road traffic safety, emphasizing that the driver remains responsible for ensuring safety even when using advanced driver assistance systems [1] Case Background - The defendant, Wang Mouqun, drove under the influence of alcohol and activated the car's driver assistance system while sitting in the passenger seat, using an illegal device to bypass monitoring [2][3] - Wang's blood alcohol content was measured at 114.5 mg/100 ml, indicating he was intoxicated [2] Court Ruling - The Hangzhou Linping District People's Court sentenced Wang to one month and fifteen days of detention and a fine of 4,000 RMB for dangerous driving [4] Rationale for Judgment - The court determined that Wang was still the responsible driver despite activating the assistance system, as it is classified as a Level 2 automation system that requires driver oversight [5][6] - Wang's actions constituted dangerous driving due to his prior administrative penalties for similar offenses, which influenced the court's decision to classify his behavior as a crime [8]