Automotive Industry Opposes New AEB Rule

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation has filed litigation against the Biden administration’s Department of Transportation, challenging the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) finalized rule on Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB). The lawsuit, initiated in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, seeks to repeal the 2024 AEB rule due to concerns over its technical feasibility and potential unintended consequences. Automakers emphasize their commitment to deploying AEB systems across all new vehicles while striving for a regulation that ensures optimal safety and practicality.

Key Highlights:

  • AEB Rule Details: NHTSA’s rule mandates AEB systems that avoid collisions at speeds up to 62 mph and detect pedestrians in various conditions, with braking capabilities up to 90 mph.
  • Industry Concerns: Automakers argue the rule’s “no contact” requirement is impracticable with current technology and could lead to unsafe unintended consequences.
  • Voluntary Commitment: Automakers had already pledged to deploy AEB systems by 2025, investing over $1 billion in development.
  • Proposed Alternative: The industry advocates adopting Europe’s AEB standards, emphasizing collision mitigation and existing crashworthiness systems.
  • Timeline of Dispute: The Alliance submitted comments and technical recommendations during the rulemaking process, but NHTSA dismissed the input, prompting the legal challenge.

Background and Industry Response

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) is a critical safety innovation designed to prevent collisions by warning drivers and autonomously applying brakes if necessary. Despite supporting the technology, automakers contend that NHTSA’s 2024 rule imposes unrealistic requirements. According to John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, “NHTSA inexplicably changed course and issued a rule that automakers indicated was not feasible with widely used braking technologies.”

In a petition for reconsideration filed in June 2024, the Alliance highlighted that NHTSA’s data showed only one vehicle could meet the stopping distance requirements. Recommendations to align U.S. standards with European regulations were also dismissed. Bozzella criticized the rule as a “disastrous decision” that would raise vehicle costs and fail to significantly improve safety outcomes.

Next Steps

With the legal challenge now filed, the Department of Transportation has 40 days to submit the administrative record to the court. A briefing schedule will follow, setting the stage for a potential regulatory overhaul. Meanwhile, the incoming administration may choose to revise or repeal the contested rule.

About the Alliance for Automotive Innovation

Representing automakers, suppliers, battery producers, and innovators, the Alliance advocates for a safer, cleaner, and smarter automotive future. The sector supports 10 million American jobs and contributes five percent to the economy. Learn more at www.autosinnovate.org.

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