On 4 April, the European Parliament adopted its report on the vehicle type approval regulation. FIA Region I Interim Director, Laurianne Krid, said “The revision of the type approval is needed to restore consumers’ confidence today. The Parliament’s position takes one step in the right direction by clearly separating type approval and market surveillance and enabling additional independent testing. Our Mobility Clubs have been complementing existing tests for many years with more demanding procedures and will continue to fine-tune information available to citizens in the future.”

FIA Region I particularly welcomes the following provisions:

• EU Member States will be responsible for ensuring that market surveillance costs are covered, either based on fees or through national budgets. Market surveillance authorities will be clearly separated from type approval bodies to avoid conflicts of interests. Activities will be based on state of the art tests, such as real driving emissions, in order to ensure compliance of vehicles on the roads.

• Results of market surveillance activities will be made available to a broader public in plain and understandable language. In addition, third-party testers will be granted access to additional data to perform independent tests. Third-party test results and complaints will reach all European authorities via an available online tool.

• The European Commission will be empowered to carry market surveillance activities directly and take remedy actions in case of non-compliance. This will serve as a safeguard to ensure that vehicles on the market comply with safety and environmental standards.

FIA Region I urges Member States to do their share to restore trust in the European vehicle market and work towards a solid, common system.

[ENDS]

About FIA Region I

The FIA Region I office, based in Brussels, is a consumer body representing 111 Motoring and Touring Clubs and their 38 million members from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The FIA represents the interest of these members as motorists, public transport users, pedestrians and tourists. The FIA’s primary goal is to secure a mobility that is safe, affordable, sustainable and efficient. With these aims in mind, FIA Region I’s work focuses on Road Safety, Consumer Protection, Environmental Protection, and the promotion of Sustainable Motoring. www.fiaregion1.com