The Australian Government is proposing a new vehicle standard to enable the application of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Act to specified vehicles with a gross vehicle mass over 3,500kg and less than 3,855kg. This notification outlines the Australian Government’s intention to adopt a new Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule (ADR) 114/00 - Carbon Dioxide Emissions Measurement) to mandate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions testing requirements for specified vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM or maximum laden vehicle mass) between 3,500kg and 3,855kg from 1 January 2027. This proposed rulemaking will align Australia’s CO2 testing requirements with equivalent US standards for light duty vehicles, which apply to vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating up to 8,500 pounds. This new vehicle standard is proposed as an initial step to enable vehicles with a GVM up to 4,500kg that are marketed to be driven by consumers (such as full-sized sport utility vehicles and pick-ups) to be subject to the requirements of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Act 2024 (the NVES Act). This was foreshadowed by the Australian Government in the 'Cleaner, Cheaper to Run Cars: The Australian New Vehicle Efficiency Standard' Impact Analysis', which was notified in March 2024 (G/TBT/N/AUS/166 refers). The NVES Act sets sales weighted average carbon dioxide emissions targets for vehicle manufacturers supplying vehicles covered by the NVES Act with a GVM rating up to 4,500kg to Australia from…