---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 32310"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "32310"
heading: "New Car Assessment Program roadmap"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/32310"
units:
  - "Subtitle VI — Motor Vehicle and Driver Programs"
  - "Part C — Information, Standards, and Requirements"
  - "Chapter 323 — Consumer Information"
---

# §32310. New Car Assessment Program roadmap

- (a) **Establishment.—** Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, and not less frequently than once every 4 years thereafter, the Secretary of Transportation (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) shall establish a roadmap for the implementation of the New Car Assessment Program of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- (b) **Requirements.—** A roadmap under [subsection (a)](#a) shall—
  - (1) cover a term of 10 years, consisting of—
    - (A) a mid-term component covering the initial 5 years of the term; and
    - (B) a long-term component covering the final 5 years of the term; and
  - (2) be in accordance with—
    - (A) [section 306 of title 5](/usc/5/306.md);
    - (B) [section 1115 of title 31](/usc/31/1115.md);
    - (C) section 24401 of the FAST Act ([49 U.S.C. 105](/usc/49/105.md) note; Public Law 114–94); and
    - (D) any other relevant plans of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- (c) **Contents.—** A roadmap under [subsection (a)](#a) shall include—
  - (1) a plan for any changes to the New Car Assessment Program of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, including—
    - (A) descriptions of actions to be carried out to update the [passenger motor vehicle](/usc/49/32101.md?p=10) information developed under [section 32302(a)](/usc/49/32302.md?p=a), including the development of test procedures, test devices, test fixtures, and safety performance metrics, which shall, as applicable, incorporate—
      - (i) objective criteria for evaluating safety technologies; and
      - (ii) reasonable time periods for compliance with new or updated tests;
    - (B) key milestones, including the anticipated start of an action, completion of an action, and effective date of an update; and
    - (C) descriptions of the means by which an update will improve the [passenger motor vehicle](/usc/49/32101.md?p=10) information developed under [section 32302(a)](/usc/49/32302.md?p=a);
  - (2) an identification and prioritization of safety opportunities and technologies—
    - (A) with respect to the mid-term component of the roadmap under [subsection (b)(1)(A)](#b-1-A)—
      - (i) that are practicable; and
      - (ii) for which objective rating tests, evaluation criteria, and other consumer data exist for a market-based, consumer information approach; and
    - (B) with respect to the long-term component of the roadmap under [subsection (b)(1)(B)](#b-1-B), exist or are in development;
  - (3) an identification of—
    - (A) any safety opportunity or technology that—
      - (i) is identified through the activities carried out pursuant to subsection [(d)](#d) or [(e)](#e); and
      - (ii) is not included in the roadmap under [paragraph (2)](#c-2);
    - (B) the reasons why such a safety opportunity or technology is not included in the roadmap; and
    - (C) any developments or information that would be necessary for the Secretary to consider including such a safety opportunity or technology in a future roadmap; and
  - (4) consideration of the benefits of consistency with other rating systems used—
    - (A) within the [United States](/usc/49/31301.md?p=15); and
    - (B) internationally.
- (d) **Considerations.—** Before finalizing a roadmap under this section, the Secretary shall—
  - (1) make the roadmap available for public comment;
  - (2) review any public comments received under [paragraph (1)](#d-1); and
  - (3) incorporate in the roadmap under this section those comments, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
- (e) **Stakeholder Engagement.—** Not less frequently than annually, the Secretary shall engage stakeholders that represent a diversity of technical backgrounds and viewpoints—
  - (1) to identify—
    - (A) safety opportunities or technologies in development that could be included in future roadmaps; and
    - (B) opportunities to benefit from collaboration or harmonization with third-party safety rating programs;
  - (2) to assist with long-term planning;
  - (3) to provide an interim update of the status and development of the following roadmap to be established under [subsection (a)](#a); and
  - (4) to collect feedback or other information that the Secretary determines to be relevant to enhancing the New Car Assessment Program of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 117–58, div. B, title IV, § 24213(c)(1), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 827.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The date of enactment of this section, referred to in subsec. (a), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 117–58, which was approved Nov. 15, 2021.