State transport ministers will apply a safety assurance system to all imported automated vehicles, the National Transport Commission (NTC) has announced.

All cars will be assessed against 11 safety criteria and three obligations.

NTC Acting CEO Geoff Allan says Australia will expand its legal framework for imported cars to develop a nationally consistent approach.

The legal obligations will “interact with” current legal responsibilities for manufacturers, vehicle owners and drivers.

The safety criteria and obligations will operate under a self-certification system.

Manufacturers support using current regulatory frameworks, which would provide a practical way to manage vehicles’ safety at first supply and allow a transition to international standards as they develop. This would also mean a single industry regulator.

Ministers say further work is needed on in-service safety arrangements for automated vehicles, to better assess the costs and benefits of potential approaches.

Options for in-service requirements will be developed next year.