The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) has published proposed amendments to the Compulsory Specification for Motor Vehicles of Category M1 (VC 8022), aimed at strengthening the minimum compulsory safety requirements for new passenger vehicles sold in South Africa.

The NRCS is now inviting consumers, vehicle manufacturers, importers, industry bodies and other interested stakeholders to review the proposals and participate in the consultation process.

“The proposed amendments are intended to raise the safety baseline for new passenger vehicles entering the South African market, giving consumers greater assurance that regulated vehicles and components meet applicable minimum safety requirements.

“They are also intended to keep South Africa's compulsory vehicle safety framework relevant as manufacturers introduce electric, hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles,” the regulator points out.

Notably, the NRCS highlights that the revised draft VC 8022 proposes to increase the minimum number of airbags to at least four, covering the driver, front passenger and rear occupants, introduce side-impact protection as a compulsory requirement and address steering-impact and rear-impact protection.

The regulator adds that the amendments also incorporate Electronic Stability Control (ESC) requirements, with compliance evidence in line with UN Regulation No 140 where a vehicle is fitted with ESC, provides for advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous vehicle functions, and introduces cybersecurity provisions.

Additionally, the regulator says the review responds to the ageing of the existing specification and to significant developments in vehicle technology and international safety standards.

It notes that newer vehicles increasingly use technologies and propulsion systems not adequately covered by the current framework and the revision updates the regulatory framework to address these developments while retaining VC 8022's core purpose of setting minimum compulsory safety requirements.

The NRCS says that further amendments address electric powertrain and electric vehicle requirements, hybrid vehicles, hydrogen-fuelled vehicles, compressed and liquefied natural gas vehicles and mechanical coupling devices.

It also emphasises that the proposed amendments establish minimum compulsory regulatory requirements and should not be confused with vehicle assessment or rating programmes, which assess vehicles against broader safety criteria.

“Vehicle technology is changing rapidly, and the regulatory framework must evolve alongside these developments. The proposed amendments to VC 8022 seek to strengthen the minimum safety requirements applicable to new passenger vehicles while ensuring that the regulatory framework remains relevant to emerging technologies,” the regulator highlights.

The current proposed framework anticipates an 18-month compliance period for new vehicle approved models, with a further 18-month transitional period for variants already approved, to allow completion of existing production life cycles. These arrangements remain subject to finalisation of the specification.

The regulator says the proposed amendments were published in Government Gazette No 54970 on July 10 and are open for public comment.