KEY NEWS 1/4 — EU
The EU strengthens eCall standards to improve road safety response capabilities
The European Union has introduced sweeping new regulations that will significantly strengthen emergency call systems in vehicles, marking the most comprehensive update to eCall technology standards since their initial implementation. The amendments, officially designated as R(EU) 2025/1871, entered force on November 17, 2025, and will be phased in over the next three years.
New requirements ensure system readiness for periodic roadworthiness tests throughout vehicle lifecycles. The regulation applies to vehicles in categories M1 and N1, mandating them to be equipped with 112-based emergency call systems.
Implementation Timeline
| Date | Milestone | Requirements |
| Nov 17, 2025 | Entry into Force | Regulation R(EU) 2025/1871 becomes effective |
| Jan 1, 2026 | First Enforcement Phase | National authorities refuse type-approvals for systems not meeting updated CEN/TS standards OR new EN standards (manufacturer's choice) |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Mandatory Standards Phase |
|
| Jan 1, 2028 | Full Compliance Required |
|
Main modification for the R(EU) 2017/79
- Addition of new definitions.
- Extension of type approvals: possibility to exempt eCall systems from full-scale impact tests when only the communication part is modified without affecting other components and procedure to document and explain the changes of the modified system.
- Additional requirements for type approval: obligation to comply with requirements for backup power supplies subject to the test procedures established in the new Annex X.
- Technical modifications to the annexes: Annexes I, II, III, IV, VII and VIII for Specific changes in the test procedures and addition of the new Annex X on testing the backup power supply
- Improvement of self-test procedures: requirement that failure modes be tested separately to ensure effectiveness.
These regulatory changes underscore the EU's continued focus on road safety technology, building on the success of the original eCall mandateand are expected to improve emergency response times and system reliability, potentially saving more lives on European roads.
KEY NEWS 2/4 — EU
EU Expands Cybersecurity Rules to Motorcycles and Small Vehicles
The European Union has extended its comprehensive cybersecurity requirements to motorcycles, scooters, and other small vehicles, marking a significant expansion of digital protection measures across the automotive sector.
The requirements align with the established UN R.155 framework, providing industry with familiar standards while expanding their scope.
The new rules, effective from 20th November 2025, bring L-category vehicles under the same cyber-defense umbrella that has protected cars and commercial vehicles since recent years.
Notably, the regulation explicitly excludes L1e-B vehicles—pedal-assisted bicycles—recognizing that simple e-bikes pose minimal cybersecurity risks compared to their more technologically sophisticated counterparts.
The regulation introduces new technical annexes—including a completely new Annex XVIII—that detail specific cybersecurity testing and verification procedures tailored to the unique characteristics of smaller vehicles.
This comprehensive approach positions the European Union as a global leader in automotive cybersecurity, establishing standards that may influence similar regulations worldwide as connected mobility continues its rapid evolution across all vehicle categories.
KEY NEWS 3/4 — EU
GRPE makes several proposals to incorporate into UN Regulations, Euro 7 requirements
The UN Working Party on Pollution and Energy (GRPE) has adopted four major regulatory proposals—covering emissions, testing procedures, real driving emissions, and electric/hybrid power determination—to integrate the new Euro 7 requirements into key UN vehicle regulations: UN R.083 (09 series) on light-duty emissions, UN R.154 (04 series) on WLTP, UN R.168 (01 series) on global real driving emissions, and UN R.177 (01 series) on hybrid and electric vehicle power determination. All four proposals were adopted at the 93rd GRPE session and will move to a final vote before WP.29 at its 198th session in 2026.
Together, they represent the most significant modernization of UN vehicle environmental legislation in a decade, aiming to harmonize global technical rules with the European Union’s latest standards while streamlining testing, enhancing durability requirements, and strengthening protections against tampering and manipulation.
All four prosals share a unified objective: alignment with Euro 7 by:
- Strengthen anti-tampering and anti-manipulation protections
- Incorporate new measurement technologies, including 10 nm particle counting
- Update documentation and type-approval formats
- Support the transition toward electrification, with new durability and performance provisions for batteries and hybrid systems.
Key differences at a glance
| Regulation | Scope & Objective | Main Euro 7 Additions | What Makes It Unique |
| UN R.083 (09 series)Emissions for Light-Duty Vehicles | Emissions limits & durability for M1/N1 | Anti-manipulation rules, cybersecurity layers, extended durability, battery in-service conformity | Removes Type 2 test; major tightening of long-term emission and battery durability requirements |
| UN R.154 (04 series)WLTP | Global lab testing procedure for light-duty vehicles | PN10 particle limits, stricter SHED evaporative emissions, updated OBFCM, EV battery durability annexes, cold-weather EV range test | Merges dual WLTP tracks into one unified global series |
| UN R.168 (01 series)Global Real Driving Emissions (RDE) | Real-world emissions measurement |
Levels-based framework, updated definitions, 10 nm particle measurement, aligned testing windows |
Introduces “Declared Maximum RDE” and adds missing specs for speed-limited vehicles |
| UN R.177 (01 series)Hybrid & EV Power Determination | Defines how to measure power for BEVs/HEVs with >1 motor |
Alignment with Euro 7 power & efficiency principles |
Expands scope to M1 & N1, with optional extension to N2 (3.5–5 t) vehicles |
KEY NEWS 4/4 — SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia proposes first Amendment to its Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standard for Light-Duty Vehicles (2024–2028)
Saudi Arabia has taken an important regulatory step by proposing the first amendment to its Corporate Average Fuel Economy (SAUDI CAFE) standard for light-duty vehicles. Shared recently through a WTO notification, the amendment refines the rules that apply to all new and used LDVs entering the Kingdom between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2028.
The update reflects Saudi Arabia’s broader vision to increase energy efficiency, strengthen market transparency, and align vehicle-performance expectations with ongoing global shifts in fuel-economy regulation.
Why This Matters
The proposed amendment modernizes Saudi Arabia’s fuel-economy scheme at a critical moment for the global automotive industry. By tightening fleet-efficiency expectations while simultaneously improving clarity and dispute-resolution pathways, Saudi Arabia reinforces its commitment to:
- energy diversification,
- cleaner mobility, and
- predictable regulatory governance for global manufacturers.
With the 2024–2028 compliance cycle already underway, this amendment offers a more refined roadmap for automakers navigating one of the Middle East’s most influential automotive markets.
Key Updates in the Amendment:
1. Updated Performance Coefficients (Tables 4.4.1 and 4.4.2): The proposal replaces the existing coefficient tables with new year-specific values for 2024 through 2028, adjusting the parameters (a, b, c, d) used to calculate CAFE targets in both km/litre and litre/km per m².
2. Revised Fuel-Type Classifications: A clearer, more explicit categorization of fuel types has been added to Section 6.1.1.2.11, now listing: Gasoline 91; Gasoline 95; Gasoline 98; Diesel and others.This improves consistency in testing, classification, and reporting—particularly crucial for imports sourced from diverse international markets.
3. New Petitions and Dispute-Resolution Mechanism: One of the most significant structural improvements lies in Section 6.1.4, which establishes a formal process for challenging compliance results issued by SASO.