NHTSA Denies Petition to Mandate Computer Chips in Vehicle Ignition Keys to Deter Theft

Summary

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has denied a petition by Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety (CARS) to adopt a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) requiring new vehicles to be equipped with technology, such as computer chips in ignition keys, to prevent theft. The agency believes it cannot mandate specific technologies and is instead focusing on assessing existing theft prevention programs to determine if additional changes are needed.