Connected and Automated Vehicles

International regulators are finalizing the first global safety standards for Automated Driving Systems (“ADS”). In January, the UN Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles (“GRVA”) approved a draft UN Regulation (“UNR”) under the 1958 Agreement and a draft Global Technical Regulation (“GTR”) under the 1998 Agreement, submitting both for adoption by the UN World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations.

Developed in parallel to ensure harmonized technical requirements across jurisdictions, the UNR and GTR are expected to be adopted at the 199th WP.29 session in June 2026. In the meantime, work continues on finalizing the accompanying Guidance and Interpretation Document. This post provides an overview of the UN regulatory framework, the legislative status of the ADS instruments as of May 2026, an outline of the key provisions, and implications for companies across the ADS value chain.

Continue Reading UN Regulation and GTR on Automated Driving Systems: Current State of Play

This quarterly update summarizes key legislative and regulatory developments in the fourth quarter of 2022 related to Artificial Intelligence (“AI”), the Internet of Things (“IoT”), connected and autonomous vehicles (“CAVs”), and data privacy and cybersecurity.

Continue Reading U.S. AI, IoT, CAV, and Privacy Legislative Update – Fourth Quarter 2022

This quarterly update summarizes key federal legislative and regulatory developments in the first quarter of 2022 related to artificial intelligence (“AI”), the Internet of Things (“IoT”), connected and automated vehicles (“CAVs”), and data privacy, and highlights a few particularly notable developments in the States.  In the first quarter of 2022, Congress and the Administration focused on required assessments and funding for AI, restrictions on targeted advertising using personal data collected from individuals and connected devices, creating rules to enhance CAV safety, and children’s privacy topics.
Continue Reading U.S. AI, IoT, CAV, and Privacy Legislative Update – First Quarter 2022

A recent AAA study revealed that, although the pandemic has resulted in fewer cars on the road, traffic deaths have surged.  Speeding, alcohol-impairment, and reckless driving has caused the highest levels of crashes seen in decades, and the National Safety Council estimates a 9% increase in roadway fatalities from 2020.  Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have the potential to increase traffic safety, and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) just took a step to advance their commercialization and deployment.
Continue Reading CPUC Issues First Autonomous Vehicle Drivered Deployment Permits

In 2021, European lawmakers and agencies issued a number of proposals to regulate artificial intelligence (“AI”), the Internet of Things (“IoT”), connected and automated vehicles (“CAV”), and data privacy, as well as reports and funding programs to pursue the developments in these emerging areas.  From the adoption of more stringent cybersecurity standards for IoT devices…
Continue Reading EMEA IoT & CAV Legislative and Regulatory Roundup 2021 and Forecast 2022

The EU was particularly active in furthering its digital strategy in 2021, and will likely continue this high level of activity into 2022.  Below, we briefly summarize last year’s key legislative and regulatory updates from the EU across the following areas:

  1. data transfers;
  2. cookies (and alike) and unsolicited marketing communications;
  3. cybersecurity;
  4. open data;
  5. intermediary services;

…
Continue Reading EMEA Legislative and Regulatory Privacy Roundup 2021 and Forecast 2022

In 2021, countries in EMEA continued to focus on the legal constructs around artificial intelligence (“AI”), and the momentum continues in 2022. The EU has been particularly active in AI—from its proposed horizontal AI regulation to recent enforcement and guidance—and will continue to be active going into 2022. Similarly, the UK follows closely behind with…
Continue Reading EMEA AI Legislative and Regulatory Roundup 2021 and Forecast 2022

NHTSA recently issued a First Amended Standing General Order requiring electronic portal submission of crash incident data for automated and semi-autonomous vehicles. As of August 12, 2021, automated motor vehicle manufacturers, motor vehicle equipment manufacturers, and operators will be required to report and upload crash incident data within 24 hours to the NHTSA Incident Report…
Continue Reading NHTSA Amends Standing General Order on Automated Vehicle Crash Reporting

On June 24, 2020, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (“UNECE”)* adopted two regulations that will have a significant impact on manufacturers of connected and autonomous vehicles (“CAVs”). These regulations impose obligations relating to cybersecurity and software updates for passenger cars, vans, trucks, and buses, while the cybersecurity regulations also reach light four-wheeler vehicles if equipped with automated driving functionalities from level 3 (conditional automation) onward. The regulations will enter into force in January 2021.

The European Union, South Korea, and Japan are expected to take steps to adopt these UNECE regulations in their respective national laws in the next couple of years. Given the widespread use of UN Regulations in the automotive sector globally, we anticipate that other countries will also adopt these regulations. Once implemented, any manufacturer that sells vehicles in the implementing countries must comply with the regulatory requirements, including by ensuring that its supply chain would not prevent compliance. As a result, the effects of the regulations are likely to flow down to vehicle manufacturers even in countries that do not adopt them, such as the United States.
Continue Reading IoT Update: UN Takes the Driver’s Seat for International Regulations on Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Cybersecurity and Software Updates

In this update, we detail the key legislative updates in the second quarter of 2020 related to artificial intelligence (“AI”), the Internet of Things (“IoT”), cybersecurity as it relates to AI and IoT, and connected and automated vehicles (“CAVs”). The volume of legislation on these topics has slowed but not ceased, as lawmakers increasingly focus on the pandemic and the upcoming national election. As Congress processes Appropriations bills, it continues to look to support and fund these technologies. We will continue to update you on meaningful developments between these quarterly updates across our blogs.
Continue Reading U.S. AI, IoT, and CAV Legislative Update – Second Quarter 2020