Law comes into force in Australia - electric and hybrid cars must produce artificial sounds

New hybrid, electric and hydrogen vehicles on the Australian market must now produce a low-speed sound to warn pedestrians.

The Acoustic Warning System (AVAS) plays a sound at speeds up to 20 km/h when the vehicle passes through parking lots, intersections, driveways and other areas where pedestrians and cars share space.

The legislation – announced in 2024 – came into force on Saturday, November 1, 2025, for new cars, vans, trucks and buses that can circulate without internal combustion engines.

All new vehicles on sale that meet this definition – including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles – will have to comply with the rules by November 1, 2026.

This does not apply to cars already on the road./Indeksonline/