Vehicle certification
Within Europe two systems of type approval have been in existence for over 20 years. The first is based on European Regulations and Directives providing approval for whole vehicles, vehicle systems and components. The second is based on United Nations Regulations dealing with systems and components but not whole vehicles. "Type approval" is the process of ensuring that production of new vehicles, their systems and components have been designed and constructed to meet agreed standards of safety, security and environmental protection.
There are a number of vehicle certifications:
- European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA)
- European Small Series Type Approval for cars (ECSSTA)
- National Small Series Type Approval (NSSTA)
- Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA)