As we begin the transition from the human driver to some degree of autonomous driving, managing the warranty risks associated with electrical system components and software will be critical. Here are some steps automotive suppliers can take to mitigate this risk: First, it`s important to remember that not all sustainability initiatives are entirely voluntary. Governments recognise that promoting the circular economy, where materials are recovered and reused repeatedly in products, will be key to tackling resource scarcity and impacts on hazardous materials. Look for regulators who are increasingly entering this space through programs like reclamation and reuse standards and take-back warrants. For this reason, members of the automotive industry who are not actively pursuing sustainability goals should also keep an eye on emerging sustainability programs around the world. In addition, employers need to understand the intersection between the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and medical marijuana use. While employers are never required to allow marijuana use in the workplace, they must adequately consider an employee`s qualified disability under the ADA and must always involve an employee in the usual interactive process under the ADA. Where adverse employment decisions appear to be too closely related to disability itself rather than to marijuana use, courts have responded negatively.8 In addition, prevailing attitudes toward marijuana use are changing. Moral resistance to marijuana use will not be a good defense for an employer if a person with a disability seeks relief from legal marijuana use under state law. Today`s focus on autonomous vehicles and electrification shows no signs of slowing down: in the new automotive industry, every company is a technology company. As these technologies evolve throughout the supply chain, automotive companies must address several important issues: Fernando Camarena is senior legal and commercial counsel for international and domestic tax matters in Mexico, providing both tax advice and litigation assistance. He represents small companies to the Fortune 500, FTSE 100 and other global and branded companies in the energy, manufacturing, dietary supplement, insurance and other industries. Fernando is frequently sought after by clients due to his extensive understanding of tax laws and systems around the world.

Government regulations are not limited to the United States. Most car manufacturers manufacture vehicles that are delivered worldwide. It is in their interest to have standardized vehicles that do not need to be modified before being sent to a foreign market. As a result, many cars are designed to meet not only U.S. regulations, but also the regulations of other countries. This increases costs and hinders the design process, as many different criteria must be met for a vehicle to be road-legal in different parts of the world. 2019 saw a number of new partnerships between traditional automotive and technology companies, including Volkswagen`s partnership with Ford on Argo AI (an autonomous vehicle platform), Hyundai`s partnership with Yandex to develop an autonomous vehicle system, and Daimler`s partnership with BMW to develop automated driving systems. Partnerships and joint ventures provide an opportunity for these companies to pool their resources and expertise to reduce the resulting technology development and scale-up costs. In 2020, these partnerships will continue, enabling traditional automotive and technology companies to remain competitive in the evolving automotive market and better finance and manage their investment costs and risks. The sector has largely implemented such measures, but given the complexity of this business, where the end customer or the customer – natural person – has different channels and times to consent or not to the processing of his personal data (at the time of purchase of the vehicle, access to the workshop, sending communications through marketing campaigns, call centers, etc.), in addition to complying with all the requirements of applicable law (informative declarations, security documents, data exchange agreements, etc.), adequate internal management of changes that may occur over time is essential. Internal mismanagement due to the complexity of data tables in this area often results in contacts or customers who have not consented to the use of their personal data for certain purposes for exactly one of these purposes, with the risk of complaints filed with the AEPD. With COVID cases rising and slowing over the course of the pandemic, a pandemic-related change seems to be here to stay.

More workers are working remotely. While some companies are encouraging their employees to return to the office, others have relaxed their remote work policies and are addressing the challenges of a full or partial remote workforce. Employers should take care to consider the legal implications of this change. If an employer now has employees working remotely in states where they previously had no business activity, this can have tax and other implications. In general, the laws of the state in which an employee works govern the employee`s employment. If employees work in a new state or location, employers must ensure they are up-to-date and comply with state and local laws, which may differ from other locations where the employer operates. Are there local sick leave laws? Expense reimbursement requirements? A close look at local labor laws and regulations can avoid costly missteps. A country`s policies have a direct impact on businesses in its periphery. The PESTEL analysis of the automotive industry shows how political issues can affect the automotive industry: automotive industry players have likely built a subsidiary structure to facilitate a complex supply chain and desire to import and export. It`s also possible that this subsidiary has established companies in jurisdictions considered tax-efficient for international companies, which, while good for the bottom line, can be a burden on compliance teams. As these examples show, employers in the automotive industry face unique challenges in 2022 due to an ever-changing legal landscape. Employers need to be vigilant when it comes to updating the current state of legislation in these and other areas.

Under these circumstances, it makes sense for anyone in the automotive industry to manage their compliance through entity management software. Such software helps a compliance team to effectively centralize, manage, and structure the enterprise file, creating a single source of truth for all business-related information. This improves corporate governance by better ensuring compliance, mitigating risk, and improving decision-making because everyone in the organization looks at the same data. Foley`s automotive industry team produced this report, which looks at what the legal landscape will look like in 2020 and beyond. For the commercial vehicle market, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which regulates commercial vehicle operations in interstate commerce, studies human factors to understand driver readiness, human-machine interface, adaptation to advanced technologies, and communication with external vehicles.