On July 1, 2027, China's first mandatory national standard for in-vehicle emergency calling, GB 45672-2025, will be officially enforced. At that time, all newly declared M1-class passenger vehicles and N1-class light commercial vehicles will be required to be equipped with standard-compliant eCall systems as standard features. On the other side, European operators are accelerating the shutdown of their 2G and 3G networks, leaving emergency calling systems based on older technological architectures facing the practical dilemma of "having the system but lacking the network." A global race—both technological and regulatory—over next-generation in-vehicle life-saving systems has already begun.
I. The Dilemma of the Legacy System: In-vehicle emergency call systems rely on a channel that is gradually disappearing.
Traditional eCall (CS-eCall) makes emergency calls via 2G or 3G circuit-switched networks and employs in-band modulation to transmit a minimal dataset (MSD) of 140 bytes—containing information such as the device's location and VIN—along with the call. The problem is that the foundation of this technical approach is being undermined.
As the global phase-out of 2G/3G networks accelerates, vehicles relying on CS-eCall may face the dilemma of having intact systems yet being unable to trigger emergency calls. Estimates indicate that by the end of 2027, approximately 66.8 million passenger vehicles in Europe will still be equipped with circuit-switched eCall systems. Ensuring that these vehicles remain capable of initiating emergency calls under new network conditions poses a critical challenge for automakers and regulatory agencies alike.
II. NG eCall is more than just an "upgrade" —its underlying logic has changed.
The answer provided by the European Union is NG eCall. It is not merely a simple functional upgrade, but rather a comprehensive overhaul of its technical foundation.
NG eCall operates over 4G/5G packet-switched networks based on an IMS architecture. Voice traffic is carried via VoLTE/VoNR, while data is encapsulated in SIP messages and transmitted independently, enabling concurrent delivery of voice and data services. The MSD has been upgraded to version V3, overcoming the 140-byte limit to carry additional information such as collision intensity and battery status, with positioning accuracy reaching 1–3 meters.
Furthermore, the system incorporates a "retrograde fallback" mechanism: when 5G coverage is unavailable or the PSAP (Public Safety Call Point) has not yet completed its IMS upgrade, calls can be routed back to 2G/3G networks. This ensures that compliant NG eCall terminals must maintain backward compatibility with legacy networks during the transition period.
III. Regulatory Timeline: The transition period is tighter than anticipated
Starting from January 1, 2026, the European Union will no longer accept new type approval applications for vehicles that do not comply with the NG eCall standards. The IMS upgrade of PSAP infrastructure is being advanced in parallel; ETSI will, in June 2026, integrate with live operator networks to conduct interoperability verification. Simultaneously, amendments to the UN R144 regulation are currently under review, aiming to extend the AECS requirements to vehicle models equipped with autonomous driving systems (ADS), including the triggering logic for scenarios without a driver or even without any occupants.
IV. The Chinese Pathway for In-Vehicle eCall: A Step Back, But with Different Logic
China's stringent standard GB 45672-2025 was released in April 2025 and will come into effect on July 1, 2027, applying to Class M1 passenger vehicles and Class N1 light-duty trucks. Unlike the government-led model in Europe, China has adopted a collaborative approach of "government agencies + third-party service providers," balancing public rescue operations with commercial services.
This presents a complex scenario for export-oriented automakers: while exporting to Europe requires compliance with the IMS architecture of NG eCall, the domestic market demands adherence to the AECS national standard. Although these two standards share some underlying commonalities, their certification pathways are not interchangeable; therefore, proactively planning a dual-mode compatibility solution represents a more pragmatic approach.
V. Zhongle Certification and Automakers: Together to Cover the Final Mile of the "Life Protection Line"
eCall is a "mission-critical" system. It remains silent under normal operating conditions and is only activated in the event of an accident; the integrity of its communication link directly determines the efficiency of rescue operations. With the phase-out of 2G/3G networks, numerous vehicles previously equipped with eCall solutions now face the risk of failure. The NG eCall upgrade aims to establish a stable new communication pathway for this "life-saving call" system, and the window of opportunity for enterprises to migrate to this solution is rapidly narrowing.
Leveraging its expertise in NG eCall regulations and testing, Zhongle Certification provides automotive manufacturers with NG eCall benchmarking assessments, prototype testing, pre-review services, and end-to-end certification guidance. This support enables automakers to achieve a seamless transition from traditional in-band eCall to NG eCall under the IMS architecture, thereby facilitating compliance with EU market access requirements and strengthening the critical safety safeguards for in-vehicle emergency rescue operations.
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