The ANWB has raised concerns that the emergency system in around 2 million cars in the Netherlands could stop working from 2027 due to the shutdown of the 2G mobile network. The emergency system, known as eCall, has been mandatory in new cars since 2018 and relies on older mobile networks.
The ANWB told the television programme Kassa that cars equipped with this system risk failing the annual roadworthiness test (APK). If the issue is not resolved. “Governments in Europe must now come up with a solution to address these problems,” said ANWB spokesperson Harm Zeven. “There are many arguments to make 2G the standard for longer.”
The eCall system automatically alerts emergency services in the event of a serious accident, even if the driver is unable to act. It also provides the exact location, which is crucial in remote areas or if a vehicle ends up in water. The system was introduced after years of advocacy and became a European requirement for all new cars in 2018.
According to the ANWB, the gradual rollout of the 4G network is now creating new challenges. For an estimated 2 million cars in the Netherlands, the only solution may be to install a completely new system based on 4G or 5G. However, this would be costly and time-consuming, making it unlikely to be widely implemented.
Infrastructure Minister Vincent Karremans said it would be “problematic” if millions of cars fail the APK because of this issue. He indicated that an exception may be made at European level. “It cannot be the case that people lose access to emergency support and are then unable to pass the inspection,” he said.
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