FCA said it would extend a new voluntary commitment by automakers selling in the US market worldwide by incorporating rear seat reminder technology across its global passenger vehicle range.
"Hot climate zones are not exclusive to the US," said Mark Chernoby, FCA;s chief technical compliance officer.
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"We want our customers around the globe to benefit from this potentially life-saving technology."
Timing for the global rollout will vary depending on market specific product plans and regulatory regimes, FCA added.
The US Automakers Alliance said earlier there would be an automaker led voluntary commitment to add rear seat reminder systems to new vehicles.
This announcement is the US industry's latest effort to help enhance child safety, and expands upon widespread efforts to increase public awareness regarding the dangers of leaving children alone in a vehicle.
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By GlobalDataA number of automakers already offer US-spec cars with a variety of rear seat reminder systems.
The alliance said: "Under this commitment, automakers will innovate by introducing a wide range of approaches to help parents and caregivers remember to check the back seat as they leave a vehicle. At a minimum, these prompts will include a combination of auditory and visual alerts that will activate after a driver turns off the vehicle. With this pledge, the auto industry commits to having the rear seat reminder feature in essentially all cars and trucks by model year 2025 or sooner."
"Automakers have been exploring ways to address this safety issue and this commitment underscores how such innovations and increased awareness can help children right now," said Alliance interim president and CEO David Schwietert.
"Automakers have come together to develop a pathway forward, which not only incorporates existing systems, but also supports new, innovative approaches."
John Bozzella, president and CEO of Global Automakers, said: "Children die each year from heatstroke suffered when left unattended in the back seat of passenger vehicles. As most of these deaths are caused by children being unintentionally left in vehicles, our members are taking action to help prevent these tragic losses by adding rear seat reminder systems to prompt parents and caregivers to check the back seat before exiting their car."
Members of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of Global Automakers, which account for nearly 100% of US light-duty vehicle sales, worked together to establish the voluntary commitment that will give new car buyers access to the safety features faster than would have been possible under a government rulemaking process. Such rulemaking efforts traditionally take four to eight years to finalise.
As part of its continued public awareness and education campaign, industry leaders have aligned with other organisations to encourage the public to "Look Before You Lock".
Although this individual commitment by automakers applies to new vehicles in the future, there are also several cell phone apps available as well as some child car seats that include alarm features that can help remind drivers there's a child in the vehicle.
