Leveraging Existing Road-Vehicle Standards to Address EU AI Act Compliance

The European Union's AIA marks a significant step toward harmonized AI governance, introducing stringent requirements to ensure the safe, ethical, and transparent deployment of all AI systems. This paper examines the alignment between the AlA's high-risk AI requirements and existing road vehicle standards, such as ISO 26262 for functional safety and ISO 21448 for the safety of intended functionality. Our findings reveal both areas of alignment and notable gaps which emerging standards will need to fill. Addressing these gaps will be essential not only for road vehicles but also for broader AI applications across sectors like finance, healthcare, and education, where the AIA's high-risk classifications will soon drive similar compliance expectations. This work underscores the need for enhanced, sector-specific guidelines that operationalize the AIA requirements, bridging the divide between regulatory principles and practical compliance measures.