Automakers Must Build Cars for Differing Safety Standards

Have you ever wondered why automakers sell different models overseas? Or why it's so difficult to bring a car that sells well in Europe to the U.S.? For instance, if Ford sells a small car like the Fiesta in Europe that would fit the driving needs of increasingly gas-conscious Americans, why wouldn't it just start shipping models to dealer lots over here?

The culprit, in part, is differing safety standards. What passes muster in Europe doesn’t always fly with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the U.S. governing body for car safety, nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an increasingly important measure of safety among consumers. U.S. law requires crash protection for passengers who fail to wear seat belts, while in Europe this is not a priority. Even a detail as small as the color of the rear turn signals is an obstacle when taking a vehicle from one market to another.

Ford conducted a study of 43 regulations in the U.S. and Europe and found only 11 that matched exactly. It then becomes prohibitively expensive to introduce an all-new version of a car to meet a different set of standards.

A prime example of how these inconsistent standards muck up the introduction of a car is the Smart ForTwo, which sold for nine years overseas before coming to the U.S. In order to meet NHTSA crash-test standards, Daimler had to lengthen the body of the ForTwo, essentially making it a different car.

The only solution is to standardize safety regulations in all markets, but don't hold your breath. Global cooperation isn't exactly in vogue right now, and there are a daunting number of interests — including the safety organizations themselves, which all tend to think their rules are best.

Automakers Face Conflicting Safety Rules Worldwide (USA Today)

Comments

Sounds like Ford is whining. If they made cars that people wanted to buy this would be a non-issue as the necessary changes would be properly funded. Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have no problem, but then again they all sell cars that people want.

How about making all of your cars meet the toughest safety standard? That way, you wouldn't have to worry about not being able to sell in any market.

Seatbelts have been around for a very long time. If there are still people who refuse to acknowledge their proven effectiveness, no nanny state regulations are going to convince them now. Why are we placing such a high priority on "helping" those who evidently don't want our help?

Troy, I think the US standards are the toughest.

Freethinker, does the word lawyer come into your mind? That reminds me of the Seinfeld episode with Cosmo being burned by the hot coffee 'coz of sthg he did to himself - a reflection of the real-life case there. How hot should a reg coffee be? "Not that hot."

SO, how does this explain why Saab & Volvo have been bringing their cars to the US for decades? OR Opel (Saturn), VW, Ferrari, BMW, MB, etc. None of these companies, except perhaps VW, is anywhere near the same size as Ford or GM. They're whining because meeting the standards worldwide would cut into making next quarters numbers for Wall Street.

I visited many countries around the world. I found that almost all models of German and Japanese cars are the same all over the world, except equiped with smaller displacement engines outside of the United States for fuel efficiency. Only American brands make dedicated models just for the North America market. If German and Japanese were able to make cars that pass safety standards all over the world and still sell well, why can't the Americans?

European standards are acctually tougher than American standards. for example, they have required rear seat head restraints for all three rear passengers for over a decade. the US doesnt even mandate the need for any rear seat head restraints; just look at the Ford Focus, and any car with "integrated" head restraints.

You're all right. Ford has nothing to gripe about, they were behind using safety against the electric car industry in the late 70's because they got burned for it with the pinto.

BTW, the smaller enginies on cars in europe won't pass US emissions. It has become ford and GMs "other" excuse. I'm suprised they haven't asked the government for quotas on Japaneese Hybrids or a relaxation of emissions to India standards.

Standardisation will never happen - the US couldn't agree with anything built outside it's borders - bit like their politics, if we didn't think about it first it can't be right!

Doesn't EU have more stingent emission standard than US now?