New Delhi, Oct. 12 -- China is proposing stricter vehicle design and safety rules that would ban foldable and flexible displays, restrict certain seat functions while driving and reinforce the ban on fully concealed door handles. The government's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), along with three other ministries, released a draft on Saturday to strengthen vehicle approval processes and mitigate safety concerns associated with the latest developments in the automotive industry.

The idea is to make sure that cutting-edge car modifications are properly tested before hitting the market. The draft also includes tougher rules for driving assistance systems, smart cockpits and software updates. Public comments on the prop...