AN agreement has been struck between Europe's car manufacturers and providers of intelligent vehicle systems to ensure new eCall accident alert systems can work across the European Union (EU).

Brokered by the European Commission, the memorandum of understanding has been signed by EU car manufacturers' federation ACEA and hi-tech association ERTICO. It aims at creating an 'inter-operable, pan-European in-vehicle emergency call system', said the commission, which wants the document signed by other industrial and public sector groups.

This would ensure that all EU emergency services would be able to detect local eCall signals, transmitted automatically after an accident, providing exact GPS location information and other information to guide rescuers.