Aug 2026
UK Public HolidayAug 2026
NHTSA Seeks Public Input on Future Regulatory InitiativesAug 2026
NHTSA Continues Regulatory Updates to Modernise Safety StandardsAug 2026
Feature Spotlight: Plan Ahead with the Legislation Implementation Dates DatabaseJul 2026
Numerous Amended and Updated UN ECE Regulations Enter Into ForceJul 2026
NHTSA/EPA Accelerate Regulatory ActivityAug 2026
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to Amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135 on Light Vehicle Brake SystemsJul 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 PlanJun 2026
Additional Draft Euro 7 Emissions Implementing Regulations PublishedMay 2026
Draft EU Regulation on the Collection of Real World CO2 Emissions Data from Heavy Duty Vehicles PublishedApr 2026
Updates to the EU Requirements on Fully Automated Vehicles PublishedMar 2026
Updated Chinese Standard on Electric Vehicle Safety PublishedBraking
Aug 2026
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to Amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135 on Light Vehicle Brake Systems
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the June 26, 2026 Federal Register (F.R. Vol. 91, No. 122; NHTSA-2026-0728). This proposed rule would amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, Light Vehicle Brake Systems, to distinguish how the braking requirements apply to vehicles with and without manually operated driving controls. The proposal is intended to accommodate Automated Driving System (ADS)-equipped vehicles by clarifying definitions, tell-tale requirements, performance requirements and test procedures, while removing provisions that are no longer relevant. The existing stopping distance performance requirements would continue to apply to all affected vehicles. The proposed amendments would remove requirements for hand- or foot-operated brake controls in vehicles designed never to be operated by a human, while requiring service and parking brake controls to be actuated by on-board systems. For ADS-equipped vehicles that retain manually operated driving controls, the current FMVSS No. 135 requirements would remain unchanged. NHTSA states that the proposal is intended to eliminate unnecessary regulatory burdens and design barriers without reducing vehicle safety and supports the ongoing modernisation of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for ADS-equipped vehicles. The NPRM requests public comment on several aspects of the proposal, including the removal of manual brake control requirements, revised definitions and test procedures, tell-tale requirements for vehicles without manually operated driving controls, and the proposed removal of the friction-type parking brake requirement. The comment period closed on July 27, 2026.
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.