Starting in July, the purchase of 'economy' cars in the European Union will be affected by the implementation of new safety regulations. Medium and small-sized vehicles, with combustion engines between 70 and 90 HP, will experience an increase in their prices. This is due to the obligation to include eight electronic driving assistance systems (ADAS) in all new cars, a measure regulated by EU Safety Regulation 2019/2144.
This regulation began to apply from July 6, 2022 for newly approved vehicles and, after two years of margin given to manufacturers to adjust their production, it will now impact the final cost of the automobiles. The manufacturers assure that the increase will be “insignificant” for most models, since 85% of the models sold in Spain already include as standard the involuntary lane change warning, 80% the braking system. emergency, and 62% intelligent speed assistance, which are some of the new mandatory safety systems.
Despite the adaptation of these systems, dealers anticipate that the price increase will be moderate, estimating increases that will range between 100 and 400 euros. The European Union estimates that the new ADAS systems will contribute to saving lives, preventing more than 25,000 deaths until 2038.
New mandatory systems
Starting in July, all new cars will be required to feature advanced safety equipment including several key technologies. Among these is the fatigue and drowsiness detector (DDR), which alerts the driver when it detects loss of concentration due to fatigue or sleep; Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA), which ensures compliance with speed limits; and Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), which monitors traffic when backing up.
In addition, the alert will be implemented unintentional lane departure (LDW), which warns the driver if he or she deviates from his or her lane without signaling; the emergency braking system (ESS), which reacts to sudden braking of the vehicle in front; a starter inhibitor with breathalyzer; seat belt use alerts in all seats; and a black box, similar to those used in airplanes, installed in the vehicle's chassis.
The price of the vehicle in Spain, on the rise
In the last year, the average price of new vehicles in Spain has experienced a significant increase, going from 21,829 euros in 2022 to 23,666 euros in 2023, according to data from the Tax Agency. This increase of 8.17% reflects the continuous growth trend that has been observed over the last four years, exacerbated by both the microchip crisis and the decline in vehicle availability, in addition to the context of rising inflation.
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