Free Trade Agreement time: Ford wants to harmonize European/US crash standards

[Ryan]

Looking for a way to boost the auto sector and free trade? Reconciling the differences between European and American crash standards would greatly help auto manufacturers. Hell, what if we did the same for emissions output? :O

Think about it - anytime an American car company wants to bring a car to Europe, they have to go through the process of crash testing and modifying parts like bumpers, headlights, and taillights. This costs millions of dollars - if there was no difference between the two, manufacturers could relinquish the cost of federalization.

On top of that, we would be looking at more diverse car markets = more choices for consumers.

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.d...utual-u-s-europe-auto-standards-in-trade-deal

Ford Motor Co. wants trade tariffs between the United States and Europe removed and believes the two markets' regulators should accept each other's safety and environmental standards.​

"It will allow us far more flexibility to produce in the best place," Wolfgang Schneider, Ford's European vice president for governmental affairs, told Automotive News Europe in an interview. "Do we need this when we sell 500,000 units of a particular model in a country? No. But you are talking about 20,000 or 30,000, yes, because it enables you to bring in niche products."​

Duties on cars and commercial vehicles shipped between the United States and European Union countries and differing vehicle-quality and emissions rules add cost burdens and prevent development of uniform models for global markets, Schneider said.​

The benefits of a potential treaty that's now being considered may be seen by 2020, he said. He said that eliminating the tariff barriers is the first step but he believes that ending regulatory barriers is the "golden nugget."​

 

[chucky2]

If we could get both crash standards and especially emission standards (telling CARB to basically go F itself in the process), that would be a very very nice thing.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Once Europe is in, then what about other ares.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Awesome idea, but I absolutely promise you that our government-run DOT will never, ever, ever, allow this.

Never.

It would be like asking your IT department if it's ok to outsource all functions to an outside company. It's in their personal best interest to keep it inhouse, whether it's better for 'society' or not.

 

[Fern]

I don't see the "harmonize" part.

Looks to me like they just want each others' regulations accepted in both places. I.e., a car made to US standards is accepted in Europe and vice-versa.

Fern

 

[Anarchist420]

One of the worst things about the Constitution is the wholesale welfare which is due to all of the trade regs and tariffs.

 

[michal1980]

Once Europe is in, then what about other ares.

If the standards are similar then why not? I think it should be done on a case by case manner.

 

[sandorski]

Makes perfect sense.

 

[Zorba]

Commercial Aviation is already this way. Boeing certifies in the US under the FAA and EASA, et al. accept that certification, with some few minor additional requests. Airbus certifies in the EU under EASA, the FAA, et al. accepts that certification. Same thing with airworthiness directives, if the FAA issues an AD, EASA will issue an identical one almost 100% of the time. Bilateral Agreements

So if the EU and US can figure it out with something as complex, regulated and safe as commercial aviation, I am sure they could figure it out with cars.

Does anyone know if the EU has one set of standards for all countries? Or do any countries set their own standards for cars?

 

[cybrsage]

It will not happen due to protectionism.