eCall is an automatic emergency call system for motor vehicles required by the European Union. Devices installed in vehicles are intended to automatically report a traffic accident to the single European emergency number 112 and, by initiating rescue measures more quickly, help reduce the number of traffic fatalities and the severity of road traffic injuries.
Since April 1, 2018, eCall has been mandatory for all new models of passenger cars (M1) and light commercial vehicles (N1). In order for motor vehicles to continue to be sold and registered in the EU, automotive manufacturers must approve the eCall systems they use on the basis of EU requirements. The eCall tests defined in the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/79 are decisive:
According to the Implementing Regulation Regulation (EU) 2017/78, Annex I / II, Part I, § 12.8.7, manufacturers must declare compliance with eCall standards in accordance with Article 5(8) of Regulation (EU) 2015/758. The list of relevant standards has been updated by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1180. The relevant eCall tests are defined in:
Regulation (EU) 2015/758 further defines that the tests for eCall type approval should be performed exclusively by a Notified Technical Service.
UN Regulation No. 144 (UN-R 144) also came into force in July 2018. This regulation defines the approval procedures for:
Depending on the type of approval procedure, the scope of testing differs. In total, there are the following test areas:
The UN-R 144 is not only valid for the countries of the European Union, but is currently valid for 61 countries worldwide. Among them are Russia, Japan and Korea.
The pan-European eCall, ERA-GLONASS, and the eCall for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are each based on GSM and UMTS (circuit-switched). European mobile network operators are planning to switch off GSM/UMTS and migrate to LTE/5G in the near future.
From 2026, packet-switched Next Generation (NG) eCall will become mandatory for all new models of passenger cars (M1) and light commercial vehicles (N1).
NG eCall is based on IMS (over LTE/5G-NR) and is the subject of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1180 and future EU regulations. The relevant NG eCall tests are defined in:
We were already designated by the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) as a technical service for eCall in August 2017 and were the first laboratory in Europe to offer and perform eCall type approval tests. Similarly, we were the first laboratory to be designated by the KBA as a technical service for UN-R 144. In April 2020, we became the first laboratory in the world to be accredited by the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) to perform Next Generation eCall tests. We have also been designated as a technical service for eCall by the type approval authorities in Ireland (National Authorities of Ireland – NSAI) and Finland (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency – TRAFICOM). In addition, we have been involved in the standardization of eCall test specifications and standards (from CEN and ETSI) for several years and can draw on a wealth of experience from the large number of eCall projects and ETSI NG eCall Plugtests we have conducted.
With our extraordinary expertise in the eCall type approval process and the technical knowledge we have acquired over the years to perform the necessary eCall tests, we are your number one contact when it comes to eCall type approval / certification.
We also offer technical support and project management for ERA-GLONASS, the emergency call system for the Eurasian Customs Union region.
We have bundled our eCall expertise into an updated eCall Research Report, which provides automotive manufacturers and suppliers with an ideal overview of current and future eCall requirements. Finally, the report, which is subject to a fee, also provides guidance for an efficient global eCall type approval strategy.
The 28-page document, which is available in English, can be ordered directly from us for a price of 1,899 euros.
