The FIA Region I and a coalition of prominent European organisations have written to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, urging her to reject the mutual recognition of US vehicle safety and environmental standards in any upcoming trade negotiations with the United States.

The letter, signed by leaders from various sectors including transport safety, consumer protection, and environmental advocacy, highlights the significant differences between EU and US vehicle standards and warns of the potential consequences of accepting US standards.

According to a briefing by the European Transport Safety Council, road deaths in the EU have decreased by 16% since 2013. Higher vehicle safety standards are a key driver of this improvement. EU regulations have enabled the implementation of seatbelt reminders, an emergency calling system and advanced emergency braking systems in vehicles among other requirements.

Over the same period, road deaths in the US have increased by 25%. While there are likely to be multiple causes for this increase, the transition to larger, heavier SUVs and light trucks, as well as weaker vehicle safety requirements has played a key role.

The signatories argue that granting equivalence to US vehicle standards would undermine the EU’s single market, compromise automotive safety, and lead to unfair competition. The coalition emphasises that EU vehicles are significantly safer than their US counterparts, particularly since a major update to EU standards that has applied since 2022.  The letter also points out the lack of mandatory safety standards for pedestrian protection in the US.

The coalition stresses that the protection of European citizens from road deaths and serious injuries is non-negotiable.

Download the letter here