Ukraine is changing its design requirements for cars, buses, and motorcycles: what we know
3 April 09:21
The government has approved new technical regulations for European integration regarding the design of wheeled vehicles—that is, requirements for the manufacture of cars, buses, motorcycles, trailers, and semi-trailers.
This was reported by the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
They emphasized that this specifically concerns the production of the aforementioned vehicles, not those already in use.
The approved technical regulation sets standards for the production of vehicles and their spare parts.
Currently, Ukraine has requirements for only 30 vehicle systems, while the EU has approved requirements for 75 systems. This means that Ukraine has currently implemented less than 40% of the standards in the field of vehicle safety and design. Therefore, the updated technical regulations are intended to significantly narrow this gap.
What is changing
For the first time, the regulations in Ukraine introduce road safety requirements that are already in effect in the EU, specifically:
- Automatic Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS);
- emergency call systems (eCall);
- new requirements for lighting, signaling, and braking systems;
- updated passenger safety standards (including during traffic accidents).
The new rules also include requirements for vehicle protection systems against unauthorized access, including cybersecurity.
Modern requirements regarding CO2 emissions, fuel consumption, and energy efficiency (specifically under WLTP standards) are also being introduced.
For a number of systems (brakes, seat belts, lighting, child seats, etc.), technical requirements are being raised to meet current European standards.
New forms of certificates and technical documentation, adapted to modern vehicles—including electric and hybrid cars—are also being introduced.
In addition, the updated technical regulations change the rules for certifying spare parts for these vehicles.
First and foremost, this involves digitizing procedures to prevent abuse and ensure transparency. For example, mandatory photographic documentation of vehicle testing is being introduced.
The resolution takes effect six months after publication—in September 2026.
