Germany 2G shutdown threatens eCall systems in 5.5 million cars

The planned shutdown of 2G mobile networks in Germany, scheduled by providers like Telekom for summer 2028, could impact approximately 5.5 million vehicles. Many cars registered since 2019 rely on 2G connectivity for the mandatory eCall automatic emergency system.

While the loss of 2G would prevent the automatic transmission of emergency calls during an accident, the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has stated that this will not affect vehicle type approval or operating permits. Furthermore, the KBA clarified that vehicles will not fail their mandatory TÜV inspections due to an eCall system that no longer functions because of missing network infrastructure.

Despite this, technical challenges remain for inspectors. A spokesperson for TÜV Nord noted the difficulty for testers in distinguishing between a genuine technical defect in the system and a failure caused by the lack of network availability.