Sponsor
John Moolenaar
Representative · R-MI
Representative · R-MI
The bill improves near-term safety and gives manufacturers a clear 3-year certification pathway for autocycles, but imposes added compliance complexity that may raise prices and create regulatory gray areas for some three-wheeled designs.
People who buy or use autocycles will have clearer interim safety requirements (airbags, ABS, ESC, and specified FMVSS), improving occupant protection while final rules are developed.
Manufacturers will get a defined 3-year deadline and a regulatory pathway to certify autocycles, reducing regulatory uncertainty and aiding product development planning.
Manufacturers and regulators will have safety standards better tailored to autocycle design by applying motorcycle standards where appropriate and passenger car standards where not, avoiding inappropriate one-size-fits-all rules.
Some consumers may face higher vehicle prices if manufacturers must add airbags, ABS, ESC and meet multiple FMVSS during the interim period.
Interim standards that reference passenger car FMVSS may be difficult for some three-wheeled designs to fully meet, creating regulatory gray areas and uncertainty for consumers and regulators.
Requiring both motorcycle and passenger-car standards in some areas could create compliance complexity for manufacturers, potentially delaying market introductions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Defines "autocycle" and sets interim FMVSS-based safety requirements, requires airbags/ABS/ESC, and mandates final federal rules within three years.
Official title: To amend title 49, United States Code, to prescribe safety standards for autocycles and related equipment, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 15, 2026 by John Moolenaar · Last progress July 15, 2026
Establishes a federal definition of “autocycle” and creates interim vehicle safety requirements specific to autocycles, a three-wheeled, front-wheel-drive, fully enclosed motorcycle with a steering wheel. The bill requires autocycles to meet a set of existing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and certain safety equipment requirements, and directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue final rules, test procedures, and interpretations within three years. Until final rules take effect, an autocycle will be treated as meeting existing new-vehicle safety requirements if it complies with listed passenger car and motorcycle FMVSS, certain optional standards at the owner’s choice, interior impact performance as feasible, and is equipped with an air bag, anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability control. The Secretary must apply motorcycle standards when appropriate, provide lead time for manufacturers, and follow statutory rulemaking requirements when issuing final standards.