NHTSA Workshop on Aftermarket Modifications and ADAS Performance

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will hold a Workshop on December 10, 2026 to use its convening authority to discuss advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) performance, as it pertains to the effects of aftermarket modifications. The event will not be live streamed; however, it will be recorded and made available on the NHTSA website after the event.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 208 (Thursday, October 29, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 208 (Thursday, October 29, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68228-68229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22067]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2026-1882]


NHTSA Workshop on Aftermarket Modifications and ADAS Performance

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
will hold a Workshop on December 10, 2026 to use its convening 
authority to discuss advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) 
performance, as it pertains to the effects of aftermarket 
modifications. The event will not be live streamed; however, it will be 
recorded and made available on the NHTSA website after the event.

DATES: NHTSA will hold the Workshop on December 10, 2026, with specific 
agenda to be shared closer to the event at the website listed below. 
Registrationis free but required and must be completed no later than 
December 3, 2026. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for 
details on how to register. The public docket for the Aftermarket 
Modifications and ADAS Performance Workshop will remain open for 
comments for 90 days following the Public Meeting.

ADDRESSES: The Public meeting will be held in person at the West Atrium 
of DOT Headquarters (1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about the event, 
please contact Dee Williams at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#aecacbcb80d9c7c2c2c7cfc3ddeecac1da80c9c1d8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e5818080cb928c89898c848896a5818a91cb828a93">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Registration is required for anyone planning 
to attend the ADS Safety and Aftermarket Modifications Workshop. 
Attendees must register at <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeXXJaMDYzzts4WMpWT6dh5pds1wtwLVfXYXIIPTpdpAo4V_w/viewform">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeXXJaMDYzzts4WMpWT6dh5pds1wtwLVfXYXIIPTpdpAo4V_w/viewform</a> no 
later than December 3, 2026. Please follow the registration 
instructions presented at the registration site. A sign language 
interpreter will be provided, and closed captioning services will be 
available. During registration, please indicate whether you may need 
any other type of special accommodation. Should it be necessary to 
cancel or reschedule the Workshop due to an unforeseen circumstance, 
NHTSA will take all available measures to notify registered 
participants as soon as possible. NHTSA will conduct the event 
informally, and technical rules of evidence will not apply. The Public 
meeting will not be live streamed but recorded, and a recording will be 
made available after the event.
    Comments: Comments about either the Workshop may be submitted 
electronically or in hard copy during the 90-day comment period. Please 
submit all comments no later than.
    April 19, 2027, by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Electronic submissions: Go to the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the online instructions 
for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Suite W58-
213, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except on Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there to help 
you, please call (202) 366-9826 or (202) 366-9317 before coming.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number for this notice. Note that all comments received will be 
posted without change to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, including any 
personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act below.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> at any time or the 
street address listed above. Follow the online instructions for 
accessing the dockets via internet.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you may visit <a href="http://www.regulations.gov/privacy.html">http://www.regulations.gov/privacy.html</a>.
    Confidential Business Information: If you claim that any of the 
information in your comment (including any additional documents or 
attachments) constitutes confidential business information within the 
meaning of 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4) or is protected from disclosure pursuant 
to 18 U.S.C. 1905, please see the detailed instructions given under the 
Public Participation heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section 
of this document.
    Background: As modern vehicles transform into software-defined

[[Page 68229]]

platforms reliant on intricate sensor suites and Advanced Driver 
Assistance Systems (ADAS), they increasingly present new challenges to 
the automotive aftermarket modification industry. While vehicle 
modification has long driven consumer customization, performance, and 
commercial utility, altering parameters like ride height, bumper 
geometry, body panels, or wheel offset could negatively impact the 
performance of ADAS by altering their calibration. Systems not 
calibrated accurately are likely to have reduced performance in 
detecting the critical crash imminent situations they were designed for 
and could lead to false activations resulting in potential safety 
hazards.
    This event serves as a collaborative bridge between the broader 
automotive ecosystem and safety regulators, bringing together industry 
stakeholders, technical experts, and policymakers to examine 
engineering parameters, field realities, and data frameworks. Together, 
participants will explore practical, data-driven approaches to the 
possibility of maintaining the functionality of safety-critical ADAS 
and active safety technologies while preserving vehicle owner autonomy 
in altering their vehicles.
    As time permits, there will be an opportunity for Workshop 
attendees to participate in Q&A following each panel.
    Updates on this event will be available at <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/events/adas-workshop-aftermarket-modifications-and-adas-performance">https://www.nhtsa.gov/events/adas-workshop-aftermarket-modifications-and-adas-performance</a> and 
NHTSA recommends checking back periodically for updates or potential 
schedule changes.
    The Agency invites comments on the information presented, as well 
as input on any research needs, information gaps, and actionable next 
steps the public may believe NHTSA should address.

    Issued under authority delegated in 49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8.
Cem Hatipoglu,
Associate Administrator, Vehicle Safety Research.
[FR Doc. 2026-22067 Filed 10-28-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P


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