The Alliance of Automotive Innovation, representing major automakers such as Ford, General Motors, and Toyota, has filed a lawsuit to block a new rule requiring all vehicles to have automatic emergency braking (AEB) by 2029. The group claims the rule is "flawed" and argues that current technology is insufficient to meet the high standards outlined by the regulation.

The lawsuit, filed in the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, seeks to overturn the rule finalized last year by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The rule requires all vehicles to be able to "stop and avoid contact" with other vehicles at speeds of up to 62mph, and AEB systems must apply the brakes automatically up to 90 mph when a collision with a lead vehicle is imminent, and up to 45 mph when a pedestrian is detected. Vehicles must also be able to detect pedestrians in both daylight and darkness.

The NHTSA estimates that the new rule will help prevent hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of injuries every year. However, the Alliance of Automotive Innovation argues that the requirements are too stringent and that its suggestions were rejected during the rulemaking process. The group claims to have spent over $1 billion developing AEB technology, but wants to ensure that the rule is "technologically feasible" and maximizes driver and pedestrian safety.

In response to the lawsuit, safety advocates have expressed skepticism, arguing that the auto industry is capable of meeting the requirements. Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, stated that the AEB Rule is the most impactful regulation for roadway safety issued in years, and that the industry's inability to meet the requirements by 2029 is "remarkable" given its size and economic impact.

The lawsuit highlights the ongoing tension between the auto industry and regulators over safety standards and technological innovation. While the industry claims to be committed to AEB technology, it is pushing back against what it sees as overly ambitious requirements. The outcome of the lawsuit will have significant implications for road safety and the development of autonomous vehicle technology.

In the meantime, the NHTSA remains committed to its goal of reducing traffic fatalities and injuries through the adoption of advanced safety technologies. As the industry continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether the auto industry will be able to meet the challenges posed by the AEB Rule, or whether regulators will need to revisit the requirements to ensure a safer and more technologically advanced transportation system.