The Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026 reforms how the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulates vehicle safety and evaluates new technologies. The bill creates a new Office of the New Car Assessment Program with an 18-member advisory committee to improve vehicle safety ratings, establishes a biennial safety research priority plan, and expands manufacturer exemptions from certain safety standards. It also directs NHTSA to modernize vehicle recall procedures using digital notification methods, requires studies on emerging technologies like automated vehicle systems and wheelchair securement, and mandates a feasibility review within four years of whether the safety rating program should be transferred to a public-private partnership. The legislation affects vehicle manufacturers, safety regulators, and consumers by streamlining rule development timelines while potentially making it easier for manufacturers to seek safety standard waivers for lower-production vehicles.
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