The Specialty Equipment Market Association and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers met with industry leaders in Plymouth, Michigan, to discuss challenges with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems calibrations in both factory-original and modified vehicles.
Sides met at the SEMA Garage to create unified standards for automotive aftermarket providers as federal focus dials in on vehicle safety and rapidly advancing technology reshapes the automotive aftermarket. Innovators, experts, and stakeholders from across the industry hope to chart a path forward.
"SEMA and the aftermarket are traditionally known for performance and style, but our legacy of safety innovation runs just as deep. What starts in the aftermarket often shapes the broader industry. With the rapid adoption of ADAS technology, we have a unique opportunity to lead again—helping define a safer, more adaptive, and more personalized driving experience," said SEMA Vice President of OEM and Product Development Jim Moore in a press release.
New regulations create complexity
Modern ADAS technology controls features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning through sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar systems.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finalized new standards in 2024 requiring automatic emergency braking, including pedestrian detection, on all passenger cars and light trucks by September 2029. According to the press release, “the standard requires that the system apply brakes automatically at speeds up to 90 mph when a collision with a lead vehicle is imminent, and up to 45 mph when a pedestrian is detected.” In such situations, vehicles are required to stop and avoid contact with lead vehicles at speeds up to 62 mph while detecting pedestrians in daylight and darkness.
