November 2025: Major Updates in Automotive and Road Vehicles Standards

As the automotive industry accelerates technological innovation and regulatory complexity, November 2025 brings the release of five pivotal international standards for Automotive and Road Vehicles. These newly published specifications cover the next-generation Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) for electric vehicle infrastructure, advanced requirements for vehicle rear load carriers, track testing for obstacle avoidance, and essential revisions for conductive charging connectors. Staying abreast of these changes is essential for industry professionals tasked with compliance, procurement, quality assurance, and engineering leadership.

Overview / Introduction

The Automotive and Road Vehicles sector stands at the crossroads of electrification, stringent safety norms, and digital integration. International standards in this field set the benchmark for interoperability, functional safety, environmental performance, and user confidence. From electric vehicle (EV) charging systems to mechanical carrier accessories and dynamic vehicle testing, the November 2025 standards update offers both evolutionary enhancements and major new requirements.

Professionals who navigate these changes will gain:

• Insights into the practical scope and applications of each standard
• Understanding of revised or newly introduced compliance measures
• Guidance for integrating standards into product design, system operation, and procurement

This article reviews the scope, requirements, and business implications of each standard, providing actionable information for engineers, quality managers, compliance specialists, and researchers.

Detailed Standards Coverage

IEC 63584-210:2025 – Open Charge Point Protocol 2.1

Open Charge Point Protocol 2.1

With the rise of electric mobility, charging station interoperability and smart management are mission-critical. IEC 63584-210:2025 defines OCPP 2.1, an extension of the OCPP 2.0.1 standard, providing a secure and future-ready communication foundation for charging stations and Charging Station Management Systems (CSMS).

Scope and Key Requirements

• OCPP 2.1 introduces protocol enhancements enabling advanced features such as ISO 15118-20 authorization, bidirectional energy transfer (V2X), distributed energy resource (DER) integration, ad hoc payments, and local cost calculation.
• All existing OCPP 2.0.1 logic remains compatible, with new functionalities requiring incremental application logic updates.
• The use of updated JSON schemas, additional fields for security and diagnostics, and new message types for tariff, metering, and charging profiles.
• Enhanced support for ISO 15118-20 enables seamless user authentication and plug & charge capabilities.

Who Needs to Comply

• EV charging station OEMs
• Network operators and CSMS developers
• Energy management system integrators

Practical Implications

• Rapid migration to support V2G and priority charging
• Improved transaction security and audit trails
• Expanded integration with payment terminals and smart grid platforms

Notable Changes

• New security features: support for updated certificate protocols
• Ad hoc payment modalities (QR code, payment terminal, prepaid card)
• Local cost calculation and advanced metering for precise billing

Key highlights:

• Advanced support for bidirectional energy management and DER
• Backward-compatibility with existing OCPP 2.0.1 deployments
• Stronger security and expanded payment scenarios

Access the full standard:View IEC 63584-210:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 6563:2025 – Rear Load Carrier for Wheeled Vehicles – Requirements and Test Methods

Rear load carrier for wheeled vehicles — Requirements and test methods

Safety, durability, and user confidence are vital for rear load carriers—devices essential for transporting bicycles, cargo, and goods.

Scope and Key Requirements

• Covers functional safety and testing for rear load carriers mounted on passenger cars and light commercial vehicles up to 3.5t (as per ISO 1176).
• Encompasses static, dynamic, crash, and environmental resistance tests: including load, brake, impact, lane change, corrosion, heat/cold, and weathering.
• Specifies requirements for visibility (lighting/signaling), projection minimization, strap and fixing element resistance, and license plate accessibility.

Who Needs to Comply

• Automotive accessory manufacturers
• Vehicle OEMs and upfitters
• Quality assurance teams and suppliers

Practical Implications

• Ensures secure and reliable rear load carrier attachment, reducing risk of detachment or malfunction under real-world conditions.
• Mandates rigorous marking and user/assembly instructions for traceability and safe use.
• Aligns with UNECE R26 directives for global harmonization.

Notable Changes

• Updated material, corrosion, and environmental resistance criteria
• More granular load, impact, and dynamic testing methods
• Expanded marking and labelling requirements

Key highlights:

• Comprehensive safety and performance test protocols
• Alignment with European regulatory frameworks (UNECE R26)
• Detailed user information and assembly guidance

Access the full standard:View ISO 6563:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 3888-2:2025 – Passenger Cars – Test Track for a Severe Lane-Change Manoeuvre – Part 2: Obstacle Avoidance

Passenger cars — Test track for severe lane-change manoeuvre — Part 2: Obstacle avoidance

Dynamic stability during emergency maneuvers remains a cornerstone of vehicle safety. ISO 3888-2:2025 establishes the precise layout for closed-loop tracks enabling objective assessment of a vehicle's obstacle avoidance ability.

Scope and Key Requirements

• Defines the geometric dimensions and marking guidelines for conducting standardized lane-change (obstacle avoidance) tests on passenger cars and light commercial vehicles up to 3.5t.
• Ensures repeatability and reliability in assessing vehicle dynamics, handling, and response to sudden hazards.
• Annex provides a standardized test method, supporting both subjective driving impressions and objective measurement.

Who Needs to Comply

• Automotive OEMs and chassis engineers
• Test laboratories and certification bodies
• Regulatory compliance teams

Practical Implications

• Supports development and market approval of new vehicle models
• Enables consistency in safety comparisons and regulatory submissions
• Provides groundwork for active safety system development

Notable Changes

• Redesign of figures and diagrams for clarity
• Enhanced environmental condition recording recommendations
• Improved specification language for test replicability

Key highlights:

• Standardized test track geometry for global vehicle safety
• Strong basis for regulatory and consumer test programs
• Updated guidelines for objective and repeatable assessment

Access the full standard:View ISO 3888-2:2025 on iTeh Standards

IEC 62196-1:2025 – Plugs, Socket-Outlets, Vehicle Connectors and Vehicle Inlets for Conductive Charging of Electric Vehicles – Part 1: General Requirements

Plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle connectors and vehicle inlets – Conductive charging of electric vehicles – Part 1: General requirements

Conductive charging systems are the backbone of reliable, high-power EV infrastructure. IEC 62196-1:2025 provides the overarching technical framework for the physical and electrical interface between charging equipment and electric vehicles.

Scope and Key Requirements

• Applies to EV plugs, socket-outlets, connectors, inlets, and cable assemblies for systems rated up to 690V AC (250A) or 1,500V DC (800A), suitable for conductive charging.
• Enforces general requirements, safety, mechanical robustness, weather resistance, and electromagnetic compatibility.
• This fifth edition includes critical upgrades, notably:
  • New tests for latching devices and retaining means: ensuring secure connection integrity during operation, resilience to vibration and misuse
  • Inclusion of type 4 accessories: supporting evolving connector types and regional standards

Who Needs to Comply

• EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) manufacturers
• Charging station developers and installers
• Test laboratories and certification agencies

Practical Implications

• Stronger focus on user and public safety through mechanical and electrical robustness
• Future-proofs global charging infrastructure for new EV models and charging technologies
• Facilitates regulatory approvals across international markets

Notable Changes

• Revised sections on protection against electric shock, operational temperature rise, humidity and corrosion resistance tests
• Enhanced terminal, interlock, and contact sequencing requirements
• Expanded marking and documentation specifications

Key highlights:

• Covers the entire chain from vehicle inlets to public charging infrastructure
• New testing and accessory support for expanded EV range
• Essential for compliance and market access for all EV charging products

Access the full standard:View IEC 62196-1:2025 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

November 2025’s suite of international standards signifies more than minor updates—they reflect the automotive sector’s response to electrification, connected systems, and the demand for measurable safety and reliability.

How standards affect businesses:

• Market access & certification: Adopting the latest standards is often a prerequisite for regulatory approval, customer acceptance, and international deployment.
• Liability and risk management: Up-to-date compliance protects against recalls, product failures, and legal/regulatory penalties.
• Operational efficiency: Integrating new requirements early in product design or procurement streamlines testing, certification, and go-to-market timelines.

Compliance considerations and timelines:

• Review implementation and certification deadlines set by local/regional authorities
• Initiate gap analysis to compare existing products/processes against new requirements
• Foster cross-functional coordination (engineering, quality, procurement, legal)

Benefits of adoption:

• Enhanced customer confidence and competitive differentiation
• Improved safety, interoperability, and lifecycle performance
• Preparedness for evolving regulations and stakeholder expectations

Risks of non-compliance:

• Market rejection or loss of certification
• Exposure to fines, liabilities, and legal challenges
• Increased costs for reactive fixes or product recalls

Technical Insights

Common Requirements & Best Practices

• Documentation and Marking: Accurate and accessible product and user documentation are core across all standards, aiding traceability, safety, and legal compliance.
• Testing and Type Approval: Standards specify both type and routine tests—dynamic, environmental, mechanical, and electrical—to demonstrate conformity and secure approvals.
• Modularity and Upgradability: Both OCPP and charging connector standards offer backward compatibility and extensibility, supporting future upgrades and reducing obsolescence risk.

Implementation Best Practices

1. Engage all relevant stakeholders early—engineering, quality assurance, regulatory, procurement—to ensure a coordinated compliance strategy.
2. Document compliance evidence diligently, including test results, design records, and supplier declarations.
3. Monitor supplier conformance through robust quality assurance and contractual requirements.
4. Stay informed on cross-referenced standards and directives cited within each document.

Testing and Certification

• Leverage accredited test facilities with experience in EV infrastructure, charging connectors, or mechanical carrier systems.
• Prepare for both initial and periodic (surveillance) audits to maintain certifications.
• Adopt digital tools and automated systems to track compliance milestones and documentation.

Conclusion / Next Steps

The November 2025 standards update for Automotive and Road Vehicles introduces substantial enhancements in electric vehicle charging interoperability, accessory safety, vehicle dynamics testing, and system robustness. Organizations that proactively embrace and implement these standards will realize:

• Stronger market readiness and global compliance
• Improved product safety, performance, and user experience
• Enhanced brand reputation and reduced regulatory risk

Recommendations:

• Begin immediate internal reviews of product designs, operational processes, and supply chains
• Invest in training and robust compliance management tools
• Utilize authoritative sources, such as iTeh Standards, for ongoing updates, document access, and support

Explore these and future standards on iTeh Standards to remain at the forefront of automotive compliance and innovation.