The first in China! Lotus Cars has obtained the European R171 certification, marking a new phase of compliance for its advanced driver assistance system.
[Shanghai, China, March 12, 2026] Today, Lotus Cars, a subsidiary of Lotus Technology (NASDAQ: LOT), announced that the company has obtained the international regulatory certification of the 01 Series of Regulation No. 171 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (i.e., UN R 171.01), becoming the first Chinese automaker to receive this certification. The Lotus Eletre, jointly developed by Chinese and European technology teams, is planned to roll out the Highway Navigation Pilot (HNP) function in batches to eligible vehicles via OTA software upgrades starting from June 2026.
Regulation R171 officially came into effect in September 2024. As the world's first international unified technical regulation for L2-level driver control assistance systems, it provides a set of standardized technical requirements and test methods for global automakers. In terms of technical requirements, clear requirements are put forward from four core elements: functional characteristics, dynamic control, system boundaries, and human-machine interaction. In terms of test methods, the assessment is carried out in two major scenarios: closed-site testing and actual road testing, ensuring that the L2-level driving assistance system operates within the safety boundaries and clarifying the driver's ultimate responsibility for vehicle control.
The Lotus Eletre uses Geely's Qianli Haohan G-ASD intelligent driving solution and has obtained the UN R 171.01 international regulatory certification. It is the first and currently the only Chinese-made product with the Highway Navigation Pilot (HNP) function to receive this regulatory certification in Europe. This marks that Lotus Cars has officially aligned with international standards in terms of regulatory compliance and systematic safety governance of high-level assisted driving capabilities, consolidating its leading position in the global first echelon.
Feng Qingfeng, CEO of the Lotus Group, said, "The Lotus Eletre has become the first Chinese-made product to obtain the European R171 certification and has taken the lead in opening the Highway Navigation Pilot (HNP) function in overseas markets. This not only means the implementation of a function but also reflects Lotus' systematic ability to integrate the entire process of R & D, verification, and compliance under global standards. We always adhere to the premise of the highest safety standards, ensuring that every assisted driving technology can withstand the strict tests of global regulations and real scenarios, and continuously provide global users with a safer, more reliable, and smarter travel experience with leading technologies."
The new Lotus For Me, equipped with the Thor U chip and developed according to global standards in intelligent parking and assisted driving, will complete the relevant certification work as planned. Subsequently, relevant functions will be pushed to eligible vehicles in stages via OTA according to the regulations and product plans of each market. In the future, Lotus Cars will adhere to the principle of "safety first, compliance first, and consistent experience" and continue to iterate on high-level assisted driving capabilities, including but not limited to improving capabilities, optimizing interaction experiences, and enhancing stability.