In July 2025, the group standard "Technical Requirements and Test Methods for Occupant Protection in Frontal Collisions of Automotive Seats with Large Reclining Angles" led by the China Automotive Engineering Research Institute (CAERI) was officially solicited for public comments, marking China's leap from technology follower to standard leader in the field of zero-gravity seat safety. The standard innovatively introduces lumbar and iliac injury indicators, and for the first time clarifies the method of placing dummies in large reclining states, filling an international gap.
Zero-gravity seats simulate the weightlessness of space through the 121°-128° golden angle design, and have become the core selling point of high-end models such as AITO M7 and IM LS7. However, data shows that the risk of serious injury to passengers in large reclining states is 4.4 times that of regular sitting positions, and seat belts may strangle the neck and cause fatal injuries. In this regard, Smart Elf 5 is the first to integrate a triple protection system, becoming the industry's first model to pass the dynamic safety test of China Automotive Research Institute; Yanfeng's Safe Unit technology achieves active protection before collision through Pre-Crash fast reset (30 degrees/second) and seat airbags.
MIIT's Announcement No. 22 of 2024 emphasizes that new energy vehicles must meet mandatory national standards such as GB 38031, providing a framework for the coordinated development of power battery safety and seat systems. The Fei Jing team of China Automotive Research Institute said that the new standard will be included in the 2026 version of the C-IASI evaluation system, and has established international cooperation with the University of Virginia. At present, 88% of mainstream car companies in China are equipped with zero-gravity seats, and its market size is expected to exceed 100 billion.
The industry calls for distinguishing marketing terms from safety essence:
Terminology standard: China Automobile Association explicitly uses the definition of "high-angle seat" and requires the user manual to mark the prohibition instructions during driving
Technical path: Zeekr 009 uses EMVSR retractor to ensure the restraint of seat belts, and IM LS7 realizes H-point fixed design under 155° lying position
Usage scenario: Experts emphasize that zero-gravity mode is only for parking, and dynamic driving requires forced locking
With the implementation of the new standard, China Association of Automobile Manufacturers predicts that 30% of zero-gravity seat products that do not meet safety requirements will be eliminated in 2026, pushing the industry from comfort competition to deep cultivation of safety technology.
