China’s New 5-Second Rule: Is the EV Horsepower War Finally Over?

Introduction “0 to 100 km/h in 3 seconds.” For years, this was the golden standard for EV marketing in China. But the party might be over. China’s Ministry of Public Security has released a draft regulation requiring that passenger vehicles must have a default acceleration time of no less than 5 seconds upon startup. Is this the end of the performance war, or the beginning of a smarter era?

1. The Fact: Default Mode Only The regulation doesn’t ban high-performance EVs. It mandates that the “Normal Mode” upon startup must limit acceleration. Drivers can still unlock full power through “Sport Mode,” potentially requiring safety certification. It’s a safety net, not a tech ban.

2. The Tier 1 Perspective: A Shift from Hardware to Software For global suppliers, this signals a massive shift in procurement strategy.

• Hardware Downgrade: OEMs may no longer demand over-specced motors for mass-market cars. Why pay for peak power that’s software-locked 90% of the time?
• Software Control: The battleground shifts to software. Suppliers who can offer superior control logic for safety and efficiency will win over those just selling raw horsepower.

3. Efficiency is the New Speed With the “speed limit” in place, the next competitive edge is efficiency. Suppliers must now focus on maximizing range per kWh and reducing reliance on rare earth metals, rather than chasing 0-60 times.

Conclusion China is setting a new global standard: Safety over Speed. This regulation forces the industry to mature from a “horsepower race” to a “value competition” focused on safety, efficiency, and software.