AEB to be mandated in all new cars and SUVs in Australia by 2025, putting some models at risk of being axed

Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) will be mandated on all light vehicles sold in Australia by 2025 and any models that don’t have the safety tech fitted by then will be forced off the market.

After several years of consultation, Australian Design Rules (ADR) now specifies that car-to-car AEB must be fitted as standard to all newly introduced makes and models from March 2023 and on all models in market from March 2025.

An additional ADR states that AEB with pedestrian detection will be mandatory for all newly launched models from August 2024 and all models in market from August 2026.

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The rules apply to light vehicles which are defined as passenger cars, SUVs and light-commercial vehicles such as utes and delivery vans with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 3.5 tonnes or less, but do not apply to heavy commercial vehicles over that GVM.

That means large vans like the Ford Transit Heavy, Renault Master, Volkswagen Crafter and Iveco Daily are not included in the mandate.

Some AEB systems apply the brakes fully when the radar or camera detects an imminent crash, while others apply less pressure to the brakes.

The ADR defines emergency braking as having the purpose of “significantly decreasing the speed of the subject vehicle”. The speed range is between 10km/k and 60km/h at all load conditions, which means the new rule does not include high-speed or highway AEB that is fitted to certain models.

There are currently a number of models available in Australia that are not fitted as standard with AEB. These models will either need to be updated to include AEB, or be replaced with an all-new version that has the tech as standard for them to remain in local showrooms.

The new ADR includes mandates for car-to-car AEB and AEB with pedestrian detection.

One model that is impacted is the top-selling light car in Australia, the MG3 hatchback, that is not offered with AEB.

Suzuki’s Baleno light hatch and Ignis light SUV are not fitted with AEB, but new versions of both of these models, as well as the MG3, are expected before the mandate kicks in.

The recently discontinued Mitsubishi Pajero is also on the list of models without the tech, as is the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series and Fiat 500 micro hatch. A number of light commercials, such as the LDV G10 van and T60 ute, and the Renault Trafic and its Mitsubishi Express van twin also currently miss out.

However, Renault will launch a heavily updated version of the Trafic next year that will feature AEB.

An LDV Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide that the brand is fully aware of the local legislation and adheres to the regulations with the product it has on sale now and into the future.

The Volkswagen Amarok does not currently have AEB, but it will be replaced next year with an all-new version shared with Ford’s Ranger and it is expected that both models will come with AEB.

Larger American pick-ups like the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado just slot in under 3500kg GVM, meaning they are technically classed as light vehicles. While the Chevy is fitted with AEB, only the newer Ram 1500 released this year gets the tech. The older 1500 Express that is sold alongside the new-gen model goes without.

A number of carmakers have AEB standard on mid and higher-grade variants, but it is either optional, or not available at all on base variants. Subaru does not offer AEB on base versions of its related Impreza and XV small cars. Likewise, entry versions of the Kia Rio hatch, Suzuki Vitara SUV and MG ZS SUV.

According to the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), the number of light vehicle models sold in Australia with AEB as standard has dramatically increased from just three per cent in December 2015, to 75 per cent (or 197 models) in June this year.

ANCAP says AEB can reduce vehicle occupant trauma by as much as 28 per cent and rear-end crashes by 40 per cent. The safety watchdog says it estimates that the implementation of ADR 98/00 and 98/01 will save 580 lives and avoid 20,400 serious and 73,340 minor injuries.