Australia’s tightening car safety regulations are set to retire several long-running and popular car models as manufacturers struggle to meet new standards. From March 1, 2025, all vehicles sold in the country must include car-to-car autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as standard, under the Australian Design Rule (ADR) 98/00.
AEB systems, designed to prevent or reduce the impact of collisions by automatically applying brakes, have been gradually introduced. A rule in March 2023 mandated the technology for newly launched vehicles, but the 2025 deadline will apply to all cars sold, regardless of introduction date. This aligns Australian regulations with the United Nations’ brake system standards.
Vehicles like the Mahindra Scorpio and LDV T60, which currently lack standard AEB, face discontinuation if manufacturers do not update their systems in time. While existing stock can still be sold after March 2025, production of non-compliant models will halt.
The Australian government argues the changes aim to enhance road safety and align the market with Europe. However, industry experts warn that vehicle prices may rise as manufacturers pass on the costs of compliance to consumers.
Rules requiring car-to-pedestrian AEB systems are set to follow in 2026, potentially affecting even more models.
Further updates from manufacturers on affected models are awaited.