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World's Automakers Ask NHTSA to Harmonize 5 Safety Standards

25 August 1997

World's Automakers Ask NHTSA to Harmonize Five Safety Standards; Industry's Goal is to Unify Existing High standards

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 -- Two automotive trade associations have
formally asked the U.S. government to take what they hope will be the first
step toward adoption of "functionally equivalent" safety standards worldwide.
    In petitions filed last week with the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), the American Automobile Manufacturers Association
(AAMA) and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM)
proposed a modification of five federal safety standards to recognize
differing European standards as equivalent in providing the same level of
safety.
    If the proposed rule changes are adopted by NHTSA, manufacturers would
have the option of complying with either the U.S. or European standard for
these five safety systems: windshield defrosting and defogging, windshield
wiping and washing, headlamp concealment devices, head restraints and seat
belt assemblies.
    "American and European regulators have developed different standards to
achieve similar goals," explained AAMA President & CEO Andrew H. Card, Jr.
"The differing standards will not improve safety, but may raise costs and
limit consumer choices.  Where differing standards provide equivalent safety
benefits, we believe there should be mutual recognition.  Vehicles that are
'tested once, accepted everywhere' is our goal."
    AIAM President & CEO Philip A. Hutchinson, Jr. said, "This action,
benefiting importers and exporters alike, would be an important first step to
the eventual development of harmonized safety regulations that are accepted
around the globe.  We believe now is the time for NHTSA to demonstrate its
leadership by taking the rulemaking actions detailed in our petitions and to
challenge the rest of the world to follow."
    The five safety systems that are the subject of the petitions are among
dozens regulated by federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS).  Before
submitting the petitions to NHTSA, auto manufacturers briefed several
insurance and consumer groups on their contents in an effort to expedite the
agency's review.
    AAMA is the trade association whose members are Chrysler Corporation, Ford
Motor Company and General Motors Corporation.  Visit their site on the World
 Wide Web at http://www.aama.com.
    AIAM is the trade association representing the US subsidiaries of
international automobile companies doing business in the United States.  Visit
 their Web site at http://www.aiam.org.

SOURCE  American Automobile Manufacturers Association