Statement Regarding Release of Proposed Rule Addressing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards: Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Communications

The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and its divisions have long been anticipating the release of this proposed rule regarding vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). MEMA and its members have been providing information, insight, and input to NHTSA every step of the way through this important rulemaking process.

Suppliers are critical in the ongoing development and implementation of V2V, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) technologies (collectively referred to as V2X). We look forward to reviewing the NHTSA proposal; this is our opportunity to work with our members to review the details carefully and provide meaningful feedback. It is important that NHSTA and the V2X community get this right. Lives depend on it.

Recent data show that traffic deaths are up sharply the first half of 2016. While we may not yet fully understand why fatalities are increasing, we do know that vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications has the potential to help drivers avoid or mitigate vehicle crashes. V2V can enable warnings that are not currently available to drivers and that might not otherwise be available without V2V. Moreover, V2X technology is an important first step towards enabling automated vehicles to reach their potential.  

Our 1,000 vehicle component manufacturers in the mobility industry are committed to reducing or eliminating fatalities on our roads. Our recent study demonstrates that if these and other advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) were fully deployed in U.S. vehicles, fatalities in the U.S. would decrease by close to one third. That is nearly 10,000 lives saved every year, with more potential lives saved as additional technologies come on line. We look forward to communicating with NHTSA in the coming days to ensure that this proposed rule brings these life-saving technologies to our roads now that they are refined and ready for full deployment.

--MEMA President and CEO Steve Handschuh 

About MEMA
 
The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and its four specialized divisions comprise the leading international trade association in the fast-changing mobility industry. Representing vehicle suppliers that manufacture and remanufacture components, technologies, and systems for use in passenger cars and heavy trucks, MEMA works to ensure that the marketplace and legislative and regulatory environment support the development and implementation of new technical capabilities transforming the automotive industry, including autonomous vehicles and vehicle connectivity. By directly employing more than 871,000 Americans and generating a total employment impact of 4.26 million jobs, MEMA’s member companies are the largest sector of manufacturing jobs in the U.S. MEMA’s members are represented through four divisions: Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association (MERA) and Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA). For more information on how MEMA is leading transformation in the mobility industry, visit www.mema.org.
 
MEDIA CONTACT: Cindy Sebrell, csebrell@mema.org or 202-312-9250