Geely Auto has made industry history by becoming the world’s first automaker to receive ISO/PAS 8800 certification—an international benchmark for artificial intelligence safety in road vehicles. The certification, awarded by Germany’s DAkkS (Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle), underscores the Chinese auto giant’s leadership in both engineering excellence and next-generation vehicle safety.

This achievement places Geely at the forefront of a global movement to redefine safety in the age of intelligent mobility. The ISO/PAS 8800 standard, released in December 2024 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), is the first globally recognized framework to address the safety of AI systems across the entire vehicle lifecycle. It marks a major shift from traditional compliance-based approaches to a holistic, end-to-end safety model.

DAkkS, Germany’s national accreditation body and a prominent member of both the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), certified Geely’s adherence to three key areas of international safety standards: functional safety, expected functional safety, and AI safety. The certification confirms that Geely’s development processes, safety governance, and AI system designs meet the highest global standards.

Building a Safety Ecosystem for the AI Era

Geely’s approach goes beyond ticking boxes for compliance. Through strategic partnerships and sustained R&D investment, the company is building a comprehensive AI safety system encompassing everything from core functions and embedded software to chips, hardware, and the entire supply chain. This end-to-end framework was validated through an EU SGS audit, culminating in formal recognition from DAkkS.

“Safety has always been a cornerstone of our manufacturing philosophy,” a Geely spokesperson stated. “Achieving ISO/PAS 8800 certification is a testament to our vision of intelligent mobility that doesn’t compromise on protection.”

That vision is backed by substance: according to the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, Geely holds 1,562 patents related to vehicle safety technologies. This new certification adds to the company’s impressive portfolio, which already includes dual ISO 26262 functional safety certifications from DAkkS and ANAB (U.S.), as well as ISO 21448 certification for expected functional safety from ANAB.

Engineering a Culture of Safety

While the certification is a milestone, Geely views it as a starting point—not an endpoint. The automaker is rolling out specialized technical training programs across its engineering teams to ensure deep-rooted understanding and integration of AI safety principles. These programs cover AI lifecycle management, data governance, and safety requirement analysis, effectively embedding the standard into every layer of product development.

As AI continues to redefine the driving experience, the industry faces mounting pressure to ensure smart features don’t compromise driver or pedestrian safety. With this certification, Geely has taken a definitive step toward ensuring that intelligent systems are not only high-performing, but secure by design.

A New Standard for the Industry?

Geely’s success in securing ISO/PAS 8800 certification may set a precedent for other automakers, especially as regulatory bodies and consumers alike demand greater transparency and accountability in automotive AI systems. The move may also help China’s automotive sector position itself more competitively in global markets, particularly Europe.

In an industry rapidly transitioning toward autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles, Geely’s achievement demonstrates that safety need not be a casualty of innovation—instead, it can be its foundation.

Source: Geely Auto