Motor vehicle bumper standards; Road vehicles in general (ICS 43.020)

Temporary Exemption From Motor Vehicle Safety and Bumper Standards

This interim final rule amends the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) general exemption regulations to remove language limiting the application of temporary exemptions from the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and the bumper standard to motor vehicles manufactured on and after the effective date of an exemption, and to align the regulations with the Administrator's statutory discretion to determine the vehicle population covered by a temporary exemption. It also removes the requirement that applications for exemption be submitted in three copies and specifies an electronic means for submission. Though these amendments are effective immediately, to benefit from comments interested parties and the public may have, NHTSA requests that any comments be submitted to the docket for this rule. Following the close of the comment period, NHTSA will publish a final rule responding to any comments received and making any appropriate changes to the interim final rule.

This interim final rule is effective 31 July 2026. Comments concerning this document are due no later than 31 August 2026.