What is automotive regulatory compliance?
Automotive regulatory compliance refers to the adherence to laws, regulations, and industry standards that govern vehicle design, manufacturing, safety, emissions, and operational guidelines. These regulations are established by government agencies and industry organizations to ensure that vehicles meet safety, environmental, and performance standards before they can be sold or used in specific markets.
Key global and international regulatory bodies include:
- ISO – The International Organization for Standardization develops standards for functional safety and cybersecurity in the automotive industry.
- SAE – The Society of Automotive Engineers develops regulatory standards for mobility for automotive.
- UNECE – United Nations Economic Commission for Europe focuses on trade and regulatory cooperation among European and international countries.
The importance of compliant vehicles
Complying with regulatory standards is crucial for automakers for a variety of reasons:
- Legal Requirement – Noncompliance can lead to fines, recalls, and bans on vehicle sales.
- Consumer Safety – Protects drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
- Market Access – Ensures vehicles meet local regulations for global distribution.
- Environmental Protection – Reduces emissions and promotes sustainability.
- Brand Reputation – Compliance enhances trust and avoids legal risks.
Key areas of automotive regulatory compliance
Safety requirements
Regulations cover various aspects of vehicle safety, including general safety, active and passive safety systems, and road safety.
ISO 26262 is the international ISO standard governing the functional safety requirements of electrical, electronic, and programmable electronic systems in vehicle production. ISO 26262 defines functional safety as “the absence of unreasonable risk due to hazards caused by malfunctioning behavior of electrical/electronic (E/E) systems.”
Cybersecurity and data protection
With the increasing connectivity of vehicles, cybersecurity regulations have never been more important. These regulations are designed to protect vehicle software and user data.
ISO 21434 for automotive cybersecurity is an industry standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to address cybersecurity risks in designing and developing car electronics.
Automotive software best practices
Modern vehicles rely on software-driven functions, creating the need for standards which define best practices for embedded software.
Automotive Software Process Improvement and Capability dEtermination (ASPICE) is a set of standards used in the automotive industry to assess and improve software development processes. This structured framework ensures reliable, defect-free software that integrates seamlessly with other vehicle systems.
Emissions and environmental standards
Regulations address emissions standards, fuel efficiency, and the environmental impact of vehicle manufacturing and disposal. These include:
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - A key regulatory body responsible for setting and enforcing vehicle emissions standards.
- Euro 6 (Europe) - The European Union's emissions standard regulates the maximum levels of pollutants that vehicles can emit.
- China VI (China) - China's most stringent vehicle emissions standard is designed to reduce air pollution by significantly lowering emissions from gasoline and diesel vehicles.
The future of automotive regulatory compliance
The regulatory environment is dynamic. New policies and standards emerge regularly, requiring continuous adaptation. Solutions for digital transformation, like ALM and PLM, help OEMs work efficiently, not only ensuring compliance with existing standards but also anticipating and preparing for future changes.