For years, discussions about vehicle standards in Iran were closely associated with the term “85 mandatory vehicle standards.” The term became so widely used that it was familiar even beyond the automotive industry. Now, following the revision of vehicle type-approval requirements, the framework of automotive standards has been expanded, introducing what are known as the 122 vehicle standards.
However, the shift from 85 to 122 is not simply a matter of adding more standards to a list.
Some of the new requirements address technologies that have become increasingly important in modern vehicles, ranging from advanced driver assistance systems and the protection of pedestrians and cyclists to electric vehicle safety and cybersecurity requirements.
On the other hand, not all of these standards are intended to take effect at the same time or apply in the same way to every vehicle. For automotive industry professionals, understanding this distinction may be even more important than the number 122 itself.
What Are the 122 Vehicle Standards?
The 122 vehicle standards should be considered within the framework of vehicle type-approval requirements in Iran.
With the revision of Iranian National Standard No. 6924, concerning the type approval of motor vehicles, trailers, systems, components, and separate technical units, the framework of vehicle standard requirements has also been expanded.
Under this framework, the existing standards have not been replaced; rather, new requirements have been added to address emerging technologies and developments in the automotive industry.
Therefore, when we refer to the “122 standards,” this does not mean 122 new tests or 122 entirely new requirements. Some of these requirements were already in place and being implemented, while others are new requirements that will come into effect according to the established implementation schedule.
Have the 85 Vehicle Standards Been Replaced?
No. The introduction of the 122 vehicle standards does not mean that the previous 85 requirements have been eliminated and replaced by 122 entirely new standards.
The standards from the previous set remain part of the vehicle requirements framework. What has changed is the expansion of the scope of requirements and the addition of new standards.
This is particularly important for projects involving products that are expected to enter production, be imported, or undergo approval in the coming years. For such projects, it is not enough to consider only the requirements currently in force; it is also necessary to determine which additional requirements will be in effect when the product enters the type-approval process.
When Will the New Standards Take Effect?
One of the key aspects of the 122 vehicle standards is the phased implementation of the new requirements.
According to the announced schedule, the new standards will be implemented in three phases:
Phase One: September 23, 2027
Some of the new standards are scheduled to take effect from this date.
Phase Two: March 21, 2030
Another group of new requirements is scheduled to take effect during this phase.
Phase Three: March 20, 2032
The remaining new standards are scheduled to take effect during the third phase.
The standards included in the previous set of 85 requirements are also classified as requirements already in effect.
Therefore, simply seeing a standard listed among the 122 standards is not enough to conclude that it is currently mandatory. The implementation status and effective date of each requirement must be reviewed individually.
What New Requirements Have Been Added to the Vehicle Standards?
A closer look at the new requirements shows that changes in the automotive industry are being directly reflected in vehicle standards.
Modern vehicles are no longer simply a collection of mechanical components. Sensors, electronic control units, software, and driver assistance systems now play a major role in vehicle performance and safety. It is therefore only natural that vehicle standards are gradually evolving to cover these areas as well.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
Some of the new requirements address systems designed to assist drivers and reduce the risk of accidents.
Advanced emergency braking, lane-keeping systems, blind-spot detection, and obstacle detection while reversing are among the areas covered by the new requirements.
In this context, safety assessment is no longer limited to the performance of a mechanical component; the performance of sensors and control systems, as well as the vehicle’s response under defined conditions, also becomes important.
Protection of Pedestrians and Cyclists
The new standards place greater emphasis on the protection of vulnerable road users.
Requirements related to pedestrian and cyclist detection, driver warning systems, emergency braking, and certain impact protection measures are examples of this approach.
This shift shows that the concept of vehicle safety is no longer limited to protecting the occupants inside the vehicle.
Electric Vehicle Safety and Emerging Technologies
The growing adoption of electric vehicles has also introduced new technical requirements to the automotive industry.
In addition to conventional requirements, these vehicles must also address issues such as electrical safety, energy storage systems, protection against electric shock, and system behavior under specified conditions.
Requirements related to technologies such as hydrogen-powered vehicles are another area that has gained greater importance as vehicle powertrain technologies continue to evolve.
Vehicle Cybersecurity
Perhaps one of the most distinctive topics among the new requirements is vehicle cybersecurity.
Modern vehicles contain numerous electronic control units, while the interactions between software, hardware, and communication networks are becoming increasingly complex. Under these conditions, vehicle safety is no longer limited to structural integrity or the performance of mechanical systems.
Protecting vehicles against cybersecurity threats has also become part of the vehicle safety and approval process. UN Regulation No. 155, or UN R155, is one of the key regulations in this area, covering vehicle cybersecurity and cybersecurity management systems.
Does Every Vehicle Have to Comply with All 122 Standards?
No. This is one of the most important points to understand about the 122 vehicle standards.
Each standard has a specific scope of application (Scope) that determines which vehicles, systems, components, or separate technical units the requirement applies to.
When determining which standards apply to a vehicle, factors such as the following are important:
Vehicle category and class
Vehicle type and intended use
Vehicle mass and capacity
Powertrain type
Installed equipment and systems
Scope of application defined in the standard
Implementation status and effective date of the requirement
For example, a requirement defined for a specific category of heavy-duty vehicles does not necessarily apply to an M1 passenger vehicle. Similarly, some standards apply only to vehicles equipped with a specific system or technology.
For this reason, in a real-world project, the key question is not:
“Does the vehicle have to comply with all 122 standards?”
Instead, it should be determined:
“Which standards apply to this vehicle, and what is the implementation status of each one?”
How Are Iranian National Vehicle Standards Related to UN Regulations?
When reviewing vehicle standards, we often encounter references such as UN R14, UN R16, UN R17, UN R94, UN R100, and UN R155 alongside Iranian national standard numbers.
These numbers refer to United Nations regulations covering vehicles, their systems, and equipment. Many vehicle technical requirements at the international level are based on these regulations, and a number of Iranian national standards are either aligned with or have equivalent UN Regulations.
However, in a technical project, identifying the relevant UN Regulation number alone is not sufficient.
It is necessary to determine which national standard applies, which version or amendment is referenced, what its scope of application is, and the current implementation status of the requirement.
Where Can You Find the List of the 122 Vehicle Standards?
For an engineer or project manager, simply looking through a long list of standard numbers is not particularly useful. What matters in practice is being able to find a specific standard and quickly check its implementation status.
For this reason, the 122 Vehicle Standards Table is available on the TAT website.
On this page, you can search the standards and filter them by category or implementation status. For each standard, you can also view information such as the standard title, Iranian National Standard number, equivalent standard or regulation, and implementation status.
If you know the title or number of the standard you are looking for, you can search for it directly in this table.
View and Search the 122 Vehicle Standards
How Do the New Standards Affect Automotive Projects?
The significance of the new requirements extends beyond the testing stage.
Some standards may affect structural design, component selection, vehicle electronic architecture, sensors, driver assistance systems, or even the software development process. If such a requirement is identified at a late stage of the project, modifying the product can be both time-consuming and costly.
For this reason, when a product is expected to enter the market several years from now, decisions should not be based solely on the standards currently in force.
The expected timing of the product’s entry into the type-approval process, as well as the requirements that will be in force by that time, should also be taken into account in the product development plan.
This becomes even more important given the implementation phases scheduled for 2027, 2030, and 2032.
Where Should You Start with Vehicle Standards Testing?
Before requesting a test, it is first necessary to determine which standard applies to the product and what assessment or testing is required under that standard.
Once the applicable standard has been identified, it is necessary to verify whether the required test falls within the laboratory’s scope of services and accredited capabilities. The test sample, technical documentation, and required test conditions should also be prepared in accordance with the applicable test method.
Taraz Azmoon TAT Laboratory (TAT) provides vehicle testing and technical evaluation services within its approved scope of activities. The standards for which testing services are available are also specified on the dedicated page for each test.
For projects where the applicable standards or test plan have not yet been determined, reviewing these requirements before preparing the test sample can help prevent rework at later stages.
From 85 to 122 Vehicle Standards: It’s More Than Just a Number
Perhaps the simplest way to describe this change is to say that the number of vehicle standard requirements has increased from 85 to 122. However, for automotive industry professionals, the more important part of the story lies behind these numbers.
Vehicle technology has evolved, and technical requirements are evolving along with it.
Driver assistance systems, pedestrian and cyclist protection, electric vehicle safety, and cybersecurity are examples of how the scope of vehicle safety and evaluation has expanded compared with the past.
At the same time, not all of the 122 standards apply to every vehicle, nor do all of the new requirements take effect at the same time.
Therefore, for vehicle manufacturers, importers, and component manufacturers, what matters more than simply remembering the number 122 is understanding which standards apply to their product, when those standards take effect, and what steps are required for evaluation.
To review standard titles, equivalent standards, and the implementation status of each requirement, you can refer to the 122 Vehicle Standards Table on the TAT website.