For vehicle eCall exports to the EU, getting the regulatory framework right is step one. Many people skip straight to document preparation and get sent back. If you don't know which set of standards applies to you, submitting documents is a waste of time.
(EU) 2015/758 is the foundational framework regulation for eCall, defining covered vehicle types and basic functions. This cornerstone hasn't changed.
There are two implementing regulations. (EU) 2017/79 is the older CS-eCall implementation rule. (EU) 2024/1180 is the new NG-eCall version, directly replacing 2017/79. Don't reference the wrong document.
The testing standards are where people get tripped up most easily. The official mandatory versions for NG-eCall are EN 17184-2024 and EN 17240-2024. EN 17184 covers overall system requirements, and EN 17240 covers IMS packet-switched link testing. Many online sources still reference CEN-TS 17240-2018, the transitional draft. After January 1, 2027, it won't be accepted at all.
2. Key Timeline Points at a Glance
January 1, 2025 — NG eCall certification applications officially opened.
January 1, 2026 — New vehicle types will no longer be accepted for CS-eCall new certification. Must go through NG.
January 1, 2027 — All CS-eCall certificates become invalid. This deadline doesn't wait. Products still using CS solutions need to start migration now.
3. NG-eCall Certification Document Checklist — Item by Item
System Architecture Diagram and Circuit Design
The system architecture diagram must completely show the eCall module's connections to all vehicle systems — power, GNSS antenna, communication antenna, crash sensors, microphone, and speaker — all labeled. Circuit design includes schematics and PCB layout. The review focus is on power-fail backup battery design and anti-interference measures.
MSD Dataset Version Issue
MSD V3 format is the ultimate goal for NG eCall. But many people assume V2 was banned outright starting 2025 — that's not how it works. (EU) 2024/1180's transition period runs from 2025 through 2026, during which V2 is still usable. Only new certifications after January 1, 2027 mandate V3.
V3 adds several data fields compared to V2 — propulsion system type, battery information, and similar items. MSD logic code needs to be adapted during the transition period.
Technical Specifications and Test Plan
The technical specification document must cover all functional parameters of the eCall module — communication bands, positioning accuracy, operating temperature, power supply method — listed item by item. The test plan must specify the reference standard, test conditions, and pass/fail criteria for each test item.
Authorized Laboratory Test Report
Must be issued by an EU-accredited laboratory, covering all applicable test items under EN 17184-2024 and EN 17240-2024.
GDPR Privacy Protection Plan
eCall involves location data and call recordings — GDPR can't be glossed over. The plan must include specific technical measures: data transmission encryption, storage time limits, automatic crash data erasure. Vague descriptions get rejected outright.
EC-REP Timing Issue
EC-REP is the EU Authorized Representative. Many people assume that T-Box component manufacturers need an EC-REP during the NG eCall testing phase and rush to find one and pay. In reality, the testing phase doesn't require one at all.
EC-REP is a market placement requirement for after the product enters the EU market — it's not a prerequisite for submitting test materials. The vehicle manufacturer sets up an EC-REP when doing whole-vehicle type approval. T-Box manufacturers don't need to worry about this during the testing phase.
User Manual Requirements
The user manual must include privacy terms and eCall labeling specifications. Language isn't limited to English — EU member states may require local official languages. English can serve as a general version paired with local language versions.
4. NG-eCall Test Items — Know What You're Dealing With
MSD Accuracy and Call Setup Time
MSD accuracy testing verifies each data field one by one — timestamp, location coordinates, driving direction. One error means failure.
Call setup time — the internet is full of claims about "no more than 10 seconds" as if it's an official hard requirement. It isn't. EN 17240-2024 doesn't have this mandatory threshold. IMS signaling delay and MSD transmission duration are defined separately. The MSD transmission target is approximately 4 seconds, with industry experience values of 3 to 10 seconds. This is not an official fail criterion — don't treat experience values as law.
Environmental Reliability and EMC
Environmental reliability includes temperature cycling and vibration. Temperature cycling covers -40°C to +85°C, simulating extreme climates. Vibration testing simulates vehicle driving conditions to ensure the module doesn't loosen or fail under long-term vibration.
EMC requirements are higher than for ordinary automotive electronics. Because it's a safety-related device, electromagnetic interference cannot affect eCall triggering and communication functions.
Backup Power Reliability — Two Approaches
After a crash, the vehicle's main power may be cut off. The eCall module must have a backup power source. There are two power supply approaches with different requirements.
If using an independent built-in dedicated backup battery, the regulation requires at least 10 minutes of communication capability after a crash.
If using a shared backup power approach with the vehicle, the 2027 new rules are more complex — requiring 5 minutes of talk time plus 56 minutes of standby plus another 5 minutes of talk time. Before testing, figure out which approach your product uses. Don't apply the independent battery requirements to a shared-power vehicle.
Cybersecurity — Two Layers of Compliance
The terminal itself follows EN 18031, covering firmware signature verification, secure boot, and communication encryption. At the vehicle level, there's UN-R155's CSMS requirement, but T-Box manufacturers only need to handle their own terminal security — they don't need to manage the vehicle-level CSMS.
Sample Requirements and Ongoing Maintenance
Submit 2 to 3 fully functional production-status units. Engineering prototypes won't work — they must be finished products identical to mass production.
Component-level T-Box test reports are valid long-term — there's no fixed expiration. Whole-vehicle type approval follows the vehicle model's lifecycle — there's no "three-year expiration" concept. Annual reports and production conformity checks are the OEM's obligation. T-Box manufacturers don't need to submit annual reports to the EU.
Additional Certification for Wireless Modules
T-Boxes with built-in 4G/5G communication modules need CE-RED certification in addition to eCall. If the wireless module already has a separate RED certificate, the NG eCall testing for the complete device can reuse the module's RED report. If submitting the complete device for testing, the RED's EMC and RF portions still need to be done.
UN R144 is the UN regulation for AECS. Saudi Arabia has already mandated eCall for light vehicles — those exporting to the Middle East should also pay attention.
For more on NG eCall certification document checklists, contact BlueAsia Testing & Certification — consultant Benson at 13534225140.
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