A new rule requiring all vehicles to have automatic emergency braking is “flawed” and should be repealed. a new demand presented by the automotive industry's main lobby group.
The lawsuit was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit by the Automotive Innovation Alliance, which represents most major automakers, including Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, Hyundai, Volkswagen and Toyota . The group is asking the court to overturn the new rule, finalized last year, requiring all vehicles to have automatic emergency braking (AEB) by 2029.
But once the rule was finalized, the alliance asked NHTSA to “reconsider” it, arguing that current technology was insufficient to meet the high standards outlined by the regulation. The group also stated that its suggestions were rejected during the rulemaking process and urged NHTSA to reconsider several key provisions to make it more achievable by the target date.
But NHTSA rejected the group's request, saying the requirements were “workable” and that the overall goal is to “force” the industry to adopt new technology to meet the goals of saving lives and preventing injuries.
“NHTSA acknowledged that the final rule mandates technology“
“NHTSA acknowledged that the final rule mandates the technology.” the agency said in its response“but emphasized that the standard is practicable and no current vehicle must meet all of the requirements for an FMVSS to be considered practicable under the Safety Act.”
The auto alliance claims to have spent “more than $1 billion” developing AEB over the years, but does not want this demand to be interpreted as opposition to its own technology.
“This litigation by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation shouldn't “can be interpreted as opposition to AEB, a lack of confidence in the technology, or an objection to the widest possible deployment of AEB across the entire US vehicle fleet.” says the group in a press release. “Rather, this litigation seeks to ensure a standard that maximizes the safety of drivers and pedestrians and is technologically feasible.”
But security advocates don't believe it.
“The AEB Rule is the most impactful regulation for highway safety issued in years,” Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, said in a statement. “Considering that auto manufacturing is the largest manufacturing sector in the United States, employing 10 million Americans, generating five percent of the United States' GDP, and driving $1 trillion into the economy annually, it is notable that cannot comply with the requirements of the AEB Rule by September 2029.”
