Archive
Jul 2026
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Issue Final Rule Preamble and Amended Final Rule for Event Data Recorders (EDRs) to Delay Timing of Implementation and to Establish a Phase-in Plan
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published an amended Final Rule and Preamble in the May 18, 2026 Federal Register (F.R. Vol. 91, No. 95; NHTSA–2025-0050). This regulatory action addresses petitions submitted for earlier rulemaking and includes proposals to revise 49 CFR Parts 585 and 563 Event Data Recorders. The amended actions for the Event Data Recorder regulations allow delayed implementation dates and a 4 year phase-in plan. This Final Rule does not meet the criteria of a 'significant regulatory action' under Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 (58 FR 51735, Oct. 4, 1993); therefore, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not reviewed this proposed rule under that Executive Order. This rulemaking is a deregulatory action under E.O. 14192 because it would reduce the implementation burden associated with the December 2024 Final Rule, which increased the pre-crash data recording duration and sample rate required under 49 CFR Part 563. Though the substantive requirements adopted in the December 2024 Final Rule remain unchanged, the NHTSA is modifying the compliance schedule in response to Petitions for Reconsideration that identified implementation challenges and risk of unintended consequences. Based on NHTSA's analysis, the lead time extension and phase-in may result in total quantified savings.
Jun 2026
Additional Draft Euro 7 Emissions Implementing Regulations Published
Following the publication of Regulation (EU) 2024/1257, which specifies the Euro 7 emissions requirements, the European Commission have been working on the drafting of the numerous Implementing Regulations required to provide the detailed test procedures, testing methodologies, administrative procedures, etc. to allow the new Euro 7 emissions requirements to be fully implemented. On May 27, 2026, two further 'Euro 7' Implementing Regulations were published on the European Commission’s 'Better Regulation' web site for public comment. The first of these draft Implementing Regulations specifies the specific methods, requirements and tests as well as the administrative requirements regarding in-vehicle battery durability, electric vehicle range at low temperature and electrified vehicle system power. The second draft Implementing Regulation specifies the rules, procedures, testing methodologies and administrative requirements regarding the brake particulate emissions of motor vehicles of M1 and N1 category vehicles.
May 2026
Draft EU Regulation on the Collection of Real World CO2 Emissions Data from Heavy Duty Vehicles Published
Within the EU Regulation which specifies the heavy duty vehicle CO2 emissions performance reduction targets that heavy duty vehicle manufacturers must comply with, (EU) 2019/1242, there is a provision in Article 12 of that Regulation which requires the European Commission to regularly collect data on the real world CO2 emissions and energy consumption of heavy duty vehicles in service to monitor and assess the real world representativeness of the values determined in accordance with (EU) 2017/2400. To fully implement this provision, on April 20, 2026, the European Commission published a draft EU Regulation for public comment, which specifies the detailed procedure for the collection of this real world CO2 emissions and energy consumption data.
Apr 2026
Updates to the EU Requirements on Fully Automated Vehicles Published
The European Union requirements on Whole Vehicle Type Approval (EU WVTA) have included provisions which allow for the type approval of fully automated (driverless) vehicles, within specific use cases, since 2022.
Mar 2026
Updated Chinese Standard on Electric Vehicle Safety Published
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China have recently published an updated version of the Chinese standard on electric vehicle safety requirements; GB 18384-2025. This updated Chinese Standard introduces numerous new and updated requirements to reflect the latest developments in the field of electric vehicle technology, and even introduces some completely new test procedures for assessing the safety performance of electric vehicles.
Feb 2026
New UN ECE Regulation on Emergency Lane Keeping Systems Published
A new United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) Regulation on Emergency Lane Keeping Systems (ELKS), UN ECE Regulation No. 178.00, came into force on January 11, 2026. This new UN ECE Regulation, which applies to M1 and N1 category vehicles, specifies technical and performance requirements for Emergency Lane Keeping Systems (ELKS) that are closely aligned with the equivalent requirements specified in the EU Regulation on Emergency Lane Keeping Systems (ELKS); (EU) 2021/646.
Jan 2026
Updates to the EU Requirements on Fully Automated Vehicles Proposed
On November 28, 2025, the European Commission published a draft EU Regulation for public comment, which proposes updates to (EU) 2022/1426 on the uniform procedures and technical specifications for the type approval of the automated driving system of fully automated vehicles to introduce specific provisions to cover Automated Valet Parking (AVP) systems. This draft Regulation proposes the introduction of a completely new Annex to (EU) 2022/1426 specifying performance requirements for AVP systems and test procedures to assess compliance with those performance requirements.
Dec 2025
Updates to the EU Whole Vehicle Type Approval Requirements Proposed
On November 19, 2025, the European Commission published a draft EU Regulation for public comment, which proposes updates to the European Whole Vehicle Type Approval (EU WVTA) requirements specified in (EU) 2018/858 on 'the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles'. The updates proposed within this draft Regulation are to reflect the latest technical and regulatory developments within the European Union and within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE), including updates that would allow EU WVTA to be obtained for vehicles fitted with Automated Valet Parking (AVP) systems and vehicles fitted with Driver Control Assistance Systems (DCAS).
Nov 2025
Canada Seeks Public Feedback on Hydrogen-Powered Vehicle Regulations
Canada Looking for Feedback from the Public Regarding Regulations for Hydrogen Powered Vehicles: With hydrogen vehicle propulsion becoming more popular as an option for the future, Transport Canada has requested feedback from the public regarding the possibility of Canadian regulations that follow the existing hydrogen regulations issued by the international community (GTR 13, UN 134, FMVSS 307 & 308). The objective would be having safe hydrogen powered vehicles based on the same principles with slightly different compliance requirements.
Oct 2025
First Two Euro 7 Emissions Implementing Regulations Published
Following the publication of Regulation (EU) 2024/1257, which specifies the Euro 7 emissions requirements, the European Commission have been working on the drafting of the numerous Implementing Regulations required to provide the detailed test procedures, testing methodologies, administrative procedures, etc. to allow the new Euro 7 emissions requirements to be fully implemented. On September 5, 2025, the first two of these 'Euro 7' Implementing Regulations were published in the Official Journal of the European Commission. The first of these Implementing Regulations, (EU) 2025/1706 specifies the rules, procedures and testing methodologies for the exhaust and evaporative emissions type approval of M1 and N1 category vehicles. The second Implementing Regulation, (EU) 2025/1707, specifies the detailed requirements for onboard fuel consumption measuring (OBFCM) devices, onboard monitoring (OBM) systems, driver warning systems, inducement methods and environmental vehicle passports (EVP) of M1 and N1 category vehicles.