Auto Industry Challenges New AEB Rule: A Detailed Analysis

The Alliance of Automotive Innovation, representing major automakers like Ford, General Motors, and Toyota, has filed a lawsuit in the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, seeking to overturn the new AEB rule finalized last year. The rule mandates all vehicles to be equipped with AEB systems capable of avoiding collisions at speeds of up to 62mph and automatically applying brakes at higher speeds under certain conditions. The NHTSA asserts that this rule will help prevent hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of injuries annually. However, the auto alliance argues that the current technology is insufficient to meet these high standards.

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Controversy Over the New Rule

Following the finalization of the rule, the alliance petitioned the NHTSA to reconsider it, asserting that the existing technology could not meet the high standards set by the regulation. They also claimed that their suggestions were dismissed during the rulemaking process. However, the NHTSA denied the petition, maintaining that the requirements were feasible and aimed at pushing the industry towards adopting new technology to ensure safety.

Auto Alliance's Stance on AEB

Despite the lawsuit, the auto alliance has made it clear that their litigation should not be interpreted as opposition to AEB or a lack of confidence in the technology. They have invested over a billion dollars in developing AEB and support its broadest possible deployment across the U.S. vehicle fleet. Their litigation is primarily about ensuring a rule that maximizes driver and pedestrian safety and is technologically feasible.