Euro NCAP Vision 2030 document released

The release of the Vision 2030 establishes the key focus areas for the European new vehicle market - for both existing automotive industry stakeholders and also new industry entrants.

Reflecting the technology shift to encourage assisted and automated driving technologies, the four key areas of Euro New Car Assessment Programme(NCAP) - in place since 2009-will be adjusted to four distinct phases of a potential crash event: Safe Driving; Crash Avoidance; Crash Protection; and Post-Crash Safety. This change will take effect from 2026, with Euro NCAP moving to a three-year protocol update cycle.

Euro NCAP will be phasing in virtual testing, improving testing for vulnerable road user protection, and introducing rating incentives for a range of driver monitoring systems.

Key additions to the Euro NCAP programme, looking forward to 2030 also include: Testing and assessment of Assisted and Automated driver support systems.

● Assessment of technology that monitors driver impairment and cognitive distraction.

● Requirements to further improve the real-world efficacy of speed assistance technology.

● Active safety tests which more closely simulate real road environments and examine human-machine interaction (HMI) design, ensuring more robust and efficient driver assistant systems.

● Testing and assessment of safety functions enabled by V2V, V21 and V2X communication.