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Type Approval is the method used to confirm that production samples of a design meets specified emissions, safety and technical standards. Vehicle Type Approval allows the Vehicle Manufacturers to place vehicles onto the market without having to test every individual vehicle that is manufactured. European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) has been around since the 1970’s under the EC Directive 70/156. On the 29th April 2009, this original Directive was replaced by EC Directive 2007/46 which extended Vehicle Type Approval from passenger cars to also include buses, coaches, vans, trucks, trailers and most special purpose vehicles (such as Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, motor homes and recovery vehicles). There are two systems of Automotive Type Approval: one is based around EC Directives and the other around UN Regulations. The EC Directives can provide approvals for whole vehicles, vehicle systems and individual components, whereas the UN Directives can only provide approvals for vehicle systems and individual components.
There can be over 50 subject areas that require legislative approval before Whole Vehicle Type Approval can be provided. Vehicles are split into different categories: passenger vehicles; goods vehicles and trailers and further sub-divided depending upon certain characteristics. Each vehicle category has specific Type Approval legislative requirements, so it is essential to fully understand the appropriate legislation that is applicable to the actual vehicle that is being considered for Type Approval. Vehicle Type Approval is complicated, using experienced type approval consultants who are familiar with the legislation can make a huge difference in the overall timing and costs of Vehicle Type Approval projects. They can make sure that the correct approvals are sought for the vehicle that is being Type Approved and also avoids common mistakes made by people who do not have access to or understand the latest Vehicle Type Approval legislation.
In order to obtain Vehicle Type Approval, the vehicle manufacturer needs to demonstrate to the Approval Authorities that the vehicle design meets all the relevant standards in the applicable subject areas and that they can manufacture production vehicles in accordance with the approved specifications.
Vehicle Manufacturers achieve this by building prototype vehicles and conducting Approval Authority witnessed tests to the required standards. The successful vehicle design is recorded and only that design is approved. The vehicle manufacturing processes, procedures and controls are inspected by the Approval Authority to check that the Vehicle Manufacturer can make production vehicles that are identical in relation to the specification, performance and marking requirements for vehicle type approval, this is known as Conformity of Production (CoP).
Once a vehicle design obtains Vehicle Type Approval, the Vehicle Manufacturer can produce a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) for each vehicle produced and use it to register the vehicle.
Changes to the vehicle design generally require further testing before that revised vehicle design can be approved. Additionally, changes to the vehicle standards could necessitate further testing and require updating of the Vehicle Type Approvals.
The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) is the designated UK Approval Authority.
European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA)
European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) is aimed for Vehicle Manufacturers who build vehicles in significant volumes and/or intend to sell the vehicles across Europe. ECWVTA is accepted throughout the EU, so vehicles that obtain ECWVTA may be registered in any of the EU member states without any further testing.
National Small Series Type Approval (NSSTA)
National Small Series Type Approval (NSSTA) is a UK national scheme that is aimed for vehicle manufacturers who intend to manufacture their vehicles in lower volumes and to sell their vehicles only in the UK. The technical requirements for NSSTA is less stringent than ECWVTA and annual restrictions are placed on the number of vehicles that can be registered in the UK using this Type Approval route.
Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA)
Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) is another UK National Scheme that is aimed for Vehicle Manufacturers who build vehicles in very small numbers, or for Vehicle Importers who bring vehicles into the UK from abroad. IVA does not require Conformity of Production as each individual vehicle is inspected by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) in Great Britain or the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Northern Ireland. DVSA, previously known as the VOSA, have closed a number of IVA Test Stations over the last few years leaving fewer than 20 DVSA IVA Test Stations spread throughout the whole of the UK. The current normal IVA inspection fee for a M1 passenger car is £199 and the normal IVA inspection fee for a 3.5 tonne goods vehicle is also £199, prices correct at January 2016.
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