ACRISS News and Update

The automotive and mobility sectors continue to evolve rapidly, driven by new legislation, emerging vehicle technologies and shifting consumer expectations that influence fleet decisions across the industry, from the introduction of Euro 7 emissions standards to the arrival of more affordable electric vehicles and growing competition from new manufacturers, making consistent vehicle classification and accurate data more critical than ever.

ACRISS’s continued work on guides and standards remains essential in this changing landscape, encompassing new Autonomous Vehicle codes and expanded data and content designed to support customers in an era of AI‑driven search and trip planning.

We are actively advancing projects to improve content and processes in response to these trends to ensure the industry is prepared for the future, including updates to ACRISS.org following our move to a new platform, refreshed existing material and the addition of more relevant, consumer‑focused information beyond traditional industry content, with further enhancements planned in the coming months. 

Latest Car Industry News!

ZEV Mandate is behind target 

The EU and UK ZEV mandates and targets are not being met in certain markets.  We saw how the EU has tried to refocus the EU ZEV mandates with more hybrid vehicle sales and a softening of the targets in response to industry pressure.   This has led to opposing views and much debate.  Now the UK's ZEV mandate is also under pressure to adapt in response to the same industry pressures.

The UK’s ZEV Mandate needs to be immediately reviewed, as demand for electric cars continues to lag behind legally mandated targets, says the automotive industry. 

UK automotive leaders say the industry is well behind the government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which requires rapidly rising EV sales—33% in 2026 and 80% by 2030. Current EV demand is far too low, and manufacturers cannot keep subsidising sales at the scale required. They are urging the government to review and adjust the targets, warning that without changes, investment, competitiveness, and the UK’s EV transition are at risk.    

In the US there is a growing issue with affordability. Prices rocketed during Covid, manufacturers withdrew ’small’ cars and now the average new car costs $48,000!

Brands are responding by fast-tracking more affordable vehicles, but there’s still a big gap at the lower end of the market - which certainly has implications for rental companies too.

An unexpected benefit of the recent rise in fuel costs has been the recent uptake in EV sales. This along with more affordable EVs might be the lift the ZEV Mandates need. It will be interesting to see if this also applies to EV rentals where these are more prevalent with corporate customers and familiar destinations and where there is still a lot of resistance to EV renting.

Industry News and Trends

The automotive and mobility landscape continues to evolve at pace, driven by new environmental legislation, advances in vehicle technology, changing consumer expectations and increasing global competition. For vehicle rental companies, manufacturers and technology providers alike, these developments reinforce the importance of accurate vehicle data and consistent industry standards.

Euro 7 – The Next Stage of Vehicle Regulation

The introduction of Euro 7 marks one of the most significant regulatory developments in recent years. The regulation is expected to apply to new vehicle types from 29 November 2026, with all newly registered passenger cars required to comply from September 2027.

Unlike previous emissions standards, Euro 7 extends beyond exhaust emissions. It introduces enhanced on-board monitoring requirements, battery durability standards for electric vehicles, and, for the first time, limits on non-exhaust emissions such as tyre and brake particulate matter. There are also proposals affecting emissions compliance for older vehicles over ten years of age.

These changes will place greater emphasis on detailed vehicle information throughout the vehicle lifecycle and further increase the importance of reliable, standardised vehicle data across booking, fleet management and reporting systems.

Electric Vehicles Continue to Mature

Electric vehicles are entering a new phase of market development. Rather than focusing solely on premium models, manufacturers are increasingly introducing more affordable electric vehicles designed for mainstream consumers and rental fleets. Models such as the Fiat 500 Electric demonstrate how lower-cost EVs can meet legislative requirements while making electric mobility accessible to a wider audience.   Europe and the UK has seen a growth in the EV market in part thanks to risen fuel costs and more affordable models.

As EV adoption grows, accurate information relating to battery range, charging capability and vehicle specifications becomes increasingly important for both fleet operators and customers making informed booking decisions.  

ACRISS continues to support electrification in the rental market with added content and agreed standards.

New Manufacturers Strengthen Competition

Chinese vehicle manufacturers continue to expand their presence across European markets, offering highly specified vehicles at competitive prices. Brands such as Jaecoo are attracting attention by delivering extensive technology and comfort features as standard.   

While value for money is driving increased market interest, brand recognition and customer confidence remain important considerations, particularly within the rental sector where vehicle familiarity often influences booking decisions. As these manufacturers establish themselves, rental fleets are expected to become increasingly diverse, highlighting the need for consistent vehicle classification across all brands. 

The automotive industry is undergoing a fundamental shift as vehicles increasingly become Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs). Rather than relying solely on hardware to deliver features and functionality, SDVs use software to control, enhance and continuously improve many aspects of the driving experience.   

Autonomous Vehicles – Progress Continues at a Measured Pace

Although widespread deployment of highly automated vehicles has progressed more slowly than originally anticipated, development continues and focused on higher levels of automation for future mobility services, while today's market continues to prioritise advanced driver assistance systems that deliver immediate safety and convenience benefits and many manufacturers have reduced investment in Level 3 autonomous driving programmes as commercial demand has proved slower than originally anticipated.

The rental sector is unlikely to experience an immediate transition to fully autonomous fleets. Instead, automation will be introduced gradually as increasingly sophisticated driver assistance technologies become standard equipment.

This phased evolution gives the industry time to establish common standards that enable autonomous capabilities to be described consistently as higher levels of vehicle automation become commercially available.

ACRISS remains prepared for this future autonomous mobility solution with new coding for Level 3 to 5 of the SAE International standards though at this stage these are not yet being used in the market.

New definitions - New coding - Car Classification System

ACRISS recently introduced new coding standards for Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) within its existing car classification system to support the evolving mobility landscape .  These are not yet currently supported by our members and tech partners however ACRISS wanted to ensure we were prepared for the future.

We have also expanded the definition of the long established fuel type "R" and "N" for Unspecified fuel AC and non AC to include the term "Combustion Engine".

Unspecified fuel coding "R" and "N" has long been used in the industry to offer flexibility to the car rental companies where specific fuel type is not guaranteed. However with the emergence of EVs and Hybrid vehicles and their own defined coding "E" and "C",  it has become necessary for us to specify and redefine the unspecified fuel coding for combustion vehicles (ICE) only.   We hope this will provide clarity to the user when booking car rental.

Further updates and clarifications will be needed as the industry evolves but we hope with these recent updates to meet current and future demands.

These standards build on the well-established  ACRISS Car Classification System and are designed to classify and categorised vehicles with support from our industry experts and our members for the benefit of the renter and car rental industry.

Please note the new AV codes introduced in the Transmission/Drive position of the ACRISS classification to indicate automation levels 3, 4 & 5, are currently not supported by our members and partners.

New Updated Website

ACRISS today announced a series of significant enhancements to its website, delivering a more intuitive and informative experience for members, partners, industry professionals and the wider public.

These improvements reinforce ACRISS’s commitment to serving as the definitive source of truth in a sector where conflicting statements, inconsistent practices and misrepresentation of ACRISS standards have increasingly contributed to customer dissatisfaction.

In recent months, ACRISS has transitioned to a new digital platform designed to improve navigation, modernise layout, refresh imagery and update core content, ensuring the site reflects the evolving needs of the global vehicle rental industry while strengthening ACRISS’s position as the trusted authority for accurate standards and reliable information. 

Improved Standards and Information

Several sections covering the ACRISS Car Classification System and vehicle coding standards have been reviewed and updated to improve clarity and make technical information more accessible. Visitors can now more easily understand how ACRISS standards support transparency, consistency and interoperability throughout the vehicle rental ecosystem.  The Car codes and ACRISS Car Classification system remain are most visited pages on the site.

Future Development

ACRISS continues to enhance and expand its website as new standards, guidance and industry initiatives are introduced, with upcoming additions including further content for the new “Car Hire Guide,” designed to help the public and renters better understand how car hire works beyond the booking process. ACRISS also plans to introduce more destination and driving tips, along with practical advice on what to consider when renting a vehicle, while supporting members and partners through a new section highlighting ACRISS’s technical partners and their role in the industry.

New Project Spotlight: Location Content

We're excited to announce the completion of our initial phase of the ACRISS Location Content Project, aimed at helping the vehicle rental industry provide customers with clearer, more consistent information about rental destinations around the world by agreeing and providing guidelines and best practices for our members and partners to follow.

Booking a rental car involves much more than selecting the right vehicle, its about also about practical information including rental location. This can vary significantly between providers, making it difficult for customers to know what to expect.

The Location Content Project is exploring how standardised, destination-specific content can be developed and shared across the industry. By creating a common framework, ACRISS aims to help rental companies, booking platforms and technology partners deliver reliable, up-to-date information throughout the customer journey.

This is an exciting addition to the ACRISS portfolio and reflects our continued commitment to improving transparency, consistency and the overall customer experience across the vehicle rental industry. 

Looking Ahead

The pace of change across the automotive and mobility sectors shows no signs of slowing. Electrification, software-defined vehicles, autonomous driving technologies, connected services and evolving environmental regulations will continue to reshape rental fleets and customer expectations over the coming years.

For the vehicle rental industry, success will increasingly depend on the ability to manage richer vehicle data, support new technologies and provide customers with clear, consistent information throughout the booking journey. As vehicles become more intelligent and connected, industry standards must evolve alongside them.

ACRISS remains committed to working collaboratively with car rental companies, mobility and technology providers and distribution partners to ensure our standards and best practices continue to support innovation while maintaining the transparency, consistency and compatibility that the global vehicle rental industry relies upon.