[New ADAS Legislation] Sounding the Alarm on the Coming FMVSS 127 Mandate

Brunno Moretti’s perspective on the impending FMVSS 127 standard and the future of ADAS

Servicing ADAS features is quickly becoming routine in today’s auto repair industry. With the FMVSS 127 regulation on the horizon, ADAS knowledge will be mandatory.

In a recent ADAS Empowered podcast hosted by Revv’s Director of Partnerships, Joel Adcock, an experienced ADAS engineer named Brunno Moretti explained his journey from the world of OEM to trying to modernize the aftermarket. In this podcast, he notes that increased ADAS integration is the future, and upcoming regulations are making certain features standard in all new vehicles. 

Who is Brunno Moretti?

With his background in Electrical Engineering, Brunno began working at General Motors, primarily on the various ADAS features and sensors. At that time, backup cameras had just become a federal requirement, and he was working on cutting-edge safety features, including Surround View, Rear Camera Mirror, and Super Cruise. 

He’s worked on sensor hardware and technical requirements with GM and then at ZF, and engineered LiDAR sensors at Septon. He now runs the ADAS division at Essential Tech (formerly Burke Porter), where he develops end-of-line equipment for OEMs and leverages that technology into the aftermarket.

While he acknowledges that a huge benefit of working with ADAS is that “[I’m] helping save lives,” he also wants to alert the aftermarket of what is coming.

Brunno warns that shops must prepare for the next wave of ADAS

Brunno wants to “sound the alarm” that more ADAS regulation is coming soon, namely with FMVSS 127. These regulations are meant to ensure safety, but can present challenges to those in the auto repair industry.

In the meantime, liability concerns lie on the shop owners to provide this safety with ADAS calibration to ensure drivers are as safe as possible. According to Moretti, ADAS integration is evolving rapidly. He estimates that 30%-40% of all cars on the road today already have ADAS features. He explains that this number will rise as ”90% of new vehicles have some level of ADAS [integration].” 

Brunno continues that ADAS regulation is coming soon, “...in 2029, there’s the new federal regulation, FMVSS 127, that’s going to require Automatic Emergency Braking, to be [installed] in 100% of new vehicles”. This new federal regulation, in Brunno’s opinion, only scratches the surface of the future of ADAS-related legislation.

FMVSS 127 is a long-anticipated regulation that shop owners must keep at top-of-mind. Let’s look at the specifics.

What is FMVSS 127, and what it will require

FMVSS 127 is a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard that will make automatic emergency braking (AEB) mandatory. This regulation, finalized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is set to go into effect by September 2029.

What exactly does this new regulation mandate?

This new law requires all new cars and light trucks to be equipped with AEB, including pedestrian AEB. This will apply to nearly all new U.S. vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less. Other specifics in this mandate require that these AEB systems:

• Have the ability to completely stop a vehicle traveling up to 62 miles per hour
• Detect pedestrians in daylight and in darkness
• Automatically apply the brakes in situations where:
  
  • A collision with a lead vehicle is imminent, up to 90 miles per hour
  • A pedestrian is detected ahead, up to 45 miles per hour

This regulation satisfies a key requirement of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, establishing minimum ADAS performance standards. NHTSA projects that this new standard will prevent at least 360 deaths and 24,000 injuries per year.

With higher standards, however, comes newer and more sophisticated technology. Brunno urges shops to“... move from asking ‘Should I calibrate?’ to ‘Why wouldn’t I calibrate?’”

What the impending FMVSS 127 legislation will mean for your shop.

FMVSS 127 requires AEB to work at higher speeds and in an increasing number of situations, such as at night and with enhanced pedestrian recognition. This introduces more sophisticated technology like higher resolution cameras, more powerful imaging radars, and more. 

While this new standard already demands that existing ADAS technology becomes more sophisticated, Moretti wants shops to know that this is only the beginning of ADAS enhancement. He urges that, “This problem is only going to get bigger…you [shop owners] need to be paying attention to this.” 

Enhanced ADAS technology is coming, and with it, the necessity to have the know-how to properly calibrate these systems. FMVSS 127 will require your shop to know how to service, calibrate, and document service to highly sophisticated instruments like:

• High-resolution cameras
• Newer and more powerful radar sensors
• LiDAR technology
• Other systems that contribute to enhanced AEB systems, like stronger brakes

Since OEMs will take time to catch up, and standardization is still a question, Moretti suggests that shop owners and technicians need to get ahead by:

• Investing in training and understanding the importance of proper ADAS calibration
• Using accurate diagnostic tools and staying educated on available OEM procedures
• Leveraging AI-driven platforms, such as Revv, to properly service necessary systems

FMVSS 127 is just the tip of the iceberg. Sweeping ADAS mandates are on the way, leaving your shop with no choice but to be prepared to adapt alongside these new regulations. 

It’s time your shop got ahead of the ADAS curve

From assembly lines to aftermarket collision shops, the future of ADAS calibration requires precision, documentation, and due diligence to evolving industry standards. Shops that use the right tools and training now will be ahead of the ADAS curve, and with it, among the most successful.

Revv is an AI-driven company that is specifically equipped to handle the uncertainty of future ADAS integration and legislation. Book a call with one of our experts today to see how Revv can ensure your shop stays up to date with new ADAS legislation, integration, and how to benefit from it.

Check out the full episode of ADAS Empowered here or subscribe to ADAS Empowered on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.