Mexico - Safety of vehicle components

The Mexican authority 'General Directorate of Standards' (subordinate agency to the 'Ministry of Economy') has issued the standard NOM-194-SE-2021 "Safety Devices for new light vehicles - Requirements and Specifications", replacing standard NOM-194-SCFI-2015.

The standard is to promote road safety as an objective of public interest. Accordingly, it must be ensured that the safety devices of new vehicles have the objective of offering the maximum possible protection for consumers, as well as for vulnerable road users.

The conformity assessment procedure may require companies to provide tests, opinions on or certifications of security devices, following either local Mexican (NOM / NMX), foreign (FMVSS) or international (UN ECE) regulations. Those documents are evaluated for completeness and sufficiently demonstrating compliance with the standard / regulation chosen.

The evaluation concludes with either a 'Compliance opinion', enabling new light vehicles to be marketed in Mexico, or with a document stating that the documentation submitted is not in accordance with the requirements established in the regulations.

The 'Compliance opinion' may be modified for its scope or for expansion or replacement of devices, as long as it is demonstrated that the requirements of this NOM-194-SE-2021 are met.