ADAS Functionality & Integrity Act introduced in Congress, right to modify
The U.S. House of Representatives has introduced the ADAS Functionality & Integrity Act (H.B. 6688) by Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.) and cosponsored by Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.), and Rep. Norma Torress (D-Calif.) SEMA worked closely with lawmakers from both parties to secure bipartisan support for the legislation which ensures that aftermarket businesses have the information necessary to calibrate advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) after vehicles are modified. This legislation aims to allow businesses to safely make common modifications to vehicles without compromising on the functionality of ADAS.
The Act would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to establish ADAS guidelines to create modification ranges and tolerances for new vehicles starting in model year 2028. The bill also requires NHTSA to create guidelines that establish ADAS test procedures that aftermarket businesses can properly test and validate that the vehicle systems have been properly calibrated.
According to research done by SEMA, more than 50 million cars and trucks in the U.S. are modified or accessorized each year. Additionally, a forthcoming federal mandate called Model Year 2029 says that all vehicles sold in the U.S. must feature automatic emergency braking. The ADAS Functionality & Integrity Act, if passed, would ensure that this vital ADAS feature would not be hindered by the modifications done to vehicles.
A word from SEMA
“SEMA thanks Rep. Harshbarger for her leadership and Reps. Vasquez, Obernolte, and Torres for their strong support for ensuring vehicles with ADAS can be modified without compromising the integrity of these important safety systems. The introduction of the ADAS Functionality & Integrity Act is a landmark moment for anyone who owns, repairs, or modifies a vehicle,” said Jim Moore, SEMA Vice President of OEM and Product Development. “Americans deserve confidence that those critical systems will work as intended for the entire life of their vehicle, even after repairs or customization. Currently, the industry lacks clear standards governing ADAS calibration, and aftermarket businesses and vehicle owners need access to the necessary calibration information and procedures needed to keep modern safety features functioning. This bill marks a critical step forward in the name of vehicle safety and is a major step forward in protecting the American people’s right to modify the vehicles they own.”