The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced the finalization of the latest Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, which includes a mandate regarding standard Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) technology. According to the new standard, all new passenger vehicles, including cars and light trucks, must be equipped with AEB systems as a standard feature by September of 2029. The mandate aims to drastically reduce the number of rear-end collisions and pedestrian accidents.
The latest NHTSA regulation is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s broader National Roadway Safety Strategy. The NHTSA expects the new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS No. 127) to save at least 360 lives and prevent over 24,000 injuries every year by requiring vehicles to automatically engage brakes when an imminent collision is detected.
The specifications for AEB performance include a stipulation that vehicles must successfully avoid collisions at speeds up to 62 mph, as well as detect pedestrians in varying light conditions. Systems must also automatically apply brakes up to 90 mph for vehicle detection and 45 mph for pedestrian detection. The rule applies to nearly all U.S. light vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less.
The new standard satisfies a provision of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which aims to establish minimum performance standards requiring AEB in all passenger vehicles. The National Roadway Safety Strategy also aims to build out multiple layers of protection via “safer roads, safer people, safer vehicles, safer speeds and better post-crash care.”
“Automatic emergency braking is proven to save lives and reduce serious injuries from frontal crashes, and this technology is now mature enough to require it in all new cars and light trucks. In fact, this technology is now so advanced that we’re requiring these systems to be even more effective at higher speeds and to detect pedestrians,” said NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman. “Most new vehicles already come with AEB, and we expect that many cars and light trucks will be able to meet this standard ahead of the deadline, meaning even more lives will be saved thanks to this technology.””
GM has proactively embraced AEB technology, integrating it as a standard feature across nearly all its models. The only exceptions within GM’s current lineup are the Chevy Express, Chevy Silverado MD, and GMC Savana.
| 2021MY | 2022MY | 2023MY | 2024MY | 2025MY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BrightDrop Zevo 400/600 | - | S | S | S | S |
| Buick Enclave | A | S | S | S | S |
| Buick Encore | N/A | N/A | - | - | - |
| Buick Encore GX | S | S | S | S | S |
| Buick Envision | S | S | S | S | S |
| Buick Envista | - | - | - | S | S |
| Cadillac Celestiq | - | - | - | S | S |
| Cadillac CT4 | S | S | S | S | S |
| Cadillac CT5 | S | S | S | S | S |
| Cadillac Escalade | S | S | S | S | S |
| Cadillac Escalade IQ | - | - | - | - | S |
| Cadillac Lyriq | - | - | S | S | S |
| Cadillac Optiq | - | - | - | - | S |
| Cadillac XT4 | S | S | S | S | S |
| Cadillac XT5 | S | S | S | S | S |
| Cadillac XT6 | S | S | S | S | S |
| Chevy Blazer | A | S | S | S | S |
| Chevy Blazer EV | - | - | - | S | S |
| Chevy Camaro | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | - |
| Chevy Colorado | A (fleet only) | A (fleet only) | S | S | S |
| Chevy Corvette | N/A | N/A | N/A | S | S |
| Chevy Equinox | S | S | S | S | S |
| Chevy Equinox EV | - | - | - | S | S |
| Chevy Express | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Chevy Malibu | A | A | S | S | S |
| Chevy Silverado 1500 | A | S | S | S | S |
| Chevy Silverado EV | - | - | - | S | S |
| Chevy Silverado HD | A | A | A | S | S |
| Chevy Silverado MD | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Chevy Spark | A | A | - | - | - |
| Chevy Suburban | S | S | S | S | S |
| Chevy Tahoe | S | S | S | S | S |
| Chevy Trailblazer | S | S | S | S | S |
| Chevy Traverse | A | S | S | S | S |
| Chevy Trax | N/A | N/A | - | S | S |
| GMC Acadia | A | S | S | S | S |
| GMC Canyon | N/A | N/A | S | S | S |
| GMC Hummer EV Pickup | - | S | S | S | S |
| GMC Hummer EV SUV | - | - | - | S | S |
| GMC Savana | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| GMC Sierra 1500 | A | S | S | S | S |
| GMC Sierra EV | - | - | - | S | S |
| GMC Sierra HD | A | A | A | S | S |
| GMC Terrain | S | S | S | S | S |
| GMC Yukon/Yukon XL | S | S | S | S | S |
| GM models with standard AEB | 42 percent | 63 percent | 79 percent | 90 percent | 93 percent |
| GM models with available AEB | 33 percent | 14 percent | 6 percent | 0 percent | 0 percent |
| Total GM models with AEB | 75 percent | 77 percent | 85 percent | 90 percent | 93 percent |
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Comments
I protest.
Oh boy, what could go wrong?
Automakers better have all issues of false alarms 100% resolved by then.
A vehicle that self-dynamites its brakes with no warning or reason is going to CAUSE crashes.
Many Chevrolet models have had this option since 2021. It’s nothing new.
I have no experience with this technology, once the system activates does it automatically bring the vehicle to full stop or can it release the brakes if the obstruction or other vehicle moves? Also, it should be interesting on snow and ice in the winter, and will a dog or other animal activate it?
I have wondered that about self driving cars. The posted speed limit might be way too fast when the road is icy.
Nothing beats a conscientious, alert, sober driver, and good tires.
Can the police (or anyone else) remotely activate it?
No but a random shadow can set it off.
The Best Thing EVER is safety and Dynamic Radar Safety, I have it on my motorcycle, and on my base level Toyota. It is awesome when in traffic for following safely, awesome for long freeway drives, for safety. My 2021 Corvette does not have it, and it is really a problem, you old schoolers do not understand, you think it is all about macho pay attention clutch-stomping, stick-shifts and woo-hoo good ol-boy drivin. But this is about safety, and convenience.
I bought that Corvette without it , but would never buy any other car , motorcycle, or truck without Dynamic Radar.
Join the modern age.
This is for cell phone users. Drink some coffee if you can’t pay attention,
I have a turbo Forester with that feature and I keep it turned off. Not sure if that goes for other brands.
I see a lot of really uninformed comments here today, a little education will go a long way. Really, ask a friend that has this, it is not a boogey-man waiting to hijack your car, and not a Microsoft Windows computer that stalls and needs a reboot.
Really folks, don’t you want your spouse, children, to have more safety in their cars ?
The Force is not strong here. Much ignorance and confusion, still, promise is shown with some asking questions good on how it works…. You will be surprised much by how good it is.
Could make track days pretty interesting if there is no off switch.
Once required by law, the lawyers will line up for law suits when the system fails, or when someone is injured or killed because the vehicle did not stop in time. This places the liability on the manufacture, not the driver. It’s a great system, but it can never be fool proof.
My brother’s RAM decided to slam the brakes when the system detected a bush growing at the curb as a person. The road had no parking lane as it was the driving lane. Since then he keeps it deactivated.
This system does not account for dump trucks on your bumper. I was driving a Ford in the passing lane when a car entered the slow lane ahead of me from a gas station. The Ford went into panic mode for no reason and had to cause some anger behind me.
If the TikTok generation could be bothered to actually drive instead of checking their “Likes”, we wouldn’t have need of this. If it keeps someone from ramming into MY car, I’m fine with it. More people on the road means more accidents, bigger trucks and suvs means deadlier accidents for those NOT in a truck or suv. I get it. I don’t like it, per se, but I get it.