The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents auto giants such as General Motors and Toyota, has asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to reconsider a rule that requires almost all new cars and truck to have automatic emergency braking systems by 2029.

The requirement, issued last April, says all cars and trucks would have to stop and avoid hitting vehicles in front of them at up to 62 miles per hour.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation said this was “practically impossible with available technology".

In a letter to congress, the Washington based group’s John Bozzella wrote "NHTSA’s action will require more costly systems that won’t improve driver or pedestrian safety.”

Reuters said the requirement was one of the most far reaching US auto safety regulations in recent years.

Automakers said NHTSA should instead adopt a European standard which detects potential forward collisions, and provides driver warnings and automatically engages the braking system.