U.S., European Teams Aid Quest for Safety Equivalency

Auto industry groups from Europe and the U.S. hope by year-end to produce a study that will help both regions agree on mutually acceptable auto-safety standard, WardsAuto.com reports.

The effort is part of continuing talks to develop a new free-trade pact dubbed the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership.

First-phase results, which set methodology and provide data analysis, will be ready in April, says Scott Schmidt, manager for vehicle safety regulations for the Washington, D.C.-based Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

The ultimate goal is to harmonize safety standards by adopting a single set of regulations for both regions. But for now, says Erik Jonnaert, secretary-general of European trade group ACEA, the teams are aiming for technical equivalency willingness by each region to accept the performance levels that result from the other's safety standards.

WardsAuto.com says carmakers strongly support the quest for technical equivalency, which would reduce development costs and certification bureaucracy. It also would make it easier for manufacturers in one market to sell identical vehicles in the other.