the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has warned that plans to grant a ten-year exemption from updating essential safety regulations for a new class of “Made in Europe” small electric cars will put pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicle occupants at risk.

“These small cars are designed specifically for urban environments, where interactions with pedestrians and cyclists are most frequent. To exempt these vehicles from installing the latest life-saving technology – and fixing known hazards like non-functioning doors – until the mid-2030s is unacceptable. Minimum safety standards must evolve to reflect what is technologically possible, not be frozen in time to cut costs.”