The auto industry’s main lobbying group has filed a new lawsuit stating that a new rule mandating automatic emergency braking for all vehicles is “flawed” and should be repealed.
The Alliance of Automotive Innovation, representing major automakers like Ford, General Motors, and Toyota, has filed the suit requesting the US Court of Appeals to overturn the new rule, finalized last year, that mandates automatic emergency braking (AEB) in all vehicles by 2029.
Despite the alliance’s petition to NHTSA to reconsider, the agency denied it, stating that the requirements were “practicable” and aimed at encouraging the industry to adopt new technology for saving lives and preventing injuries.
“NHTSA acknowledged that the final rule is technology-forcing”
NHTSA emphasized that the final rule is technology-forcing but practical, according to the agency’s response, noting that not every current vehicle needs to meet every requirement for feasibility under the Safety Act.
The auto alliance clarifies that its lawsuit is not against AEB technology itself, despite having spent over a billion dollars in its development but aims to ensure a rule that enhances driver and pedestrian safety feasibly.
However, safety advocates challenge this stance, with Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety president Cathy Chase calling the AEB Rule a significant regulation for roadway safety and expressing disbelief that the industry may struggle to meet the rule’s requirements by 2029.
