EU type approval services

What are ECE vehicle regulations?

The Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) aims to create a uniform system of regulations relating to vehicle design. Vehicles which are compliant with ECE regulations receive an e-Mark, a mandatory requirement for all automotive components and vehicles sold in the European Economic Area (EEA). By affixing the e-Mark to a product, automotive distributors and manufacturers can trade their products freely within the EEA.

Why is it important to obtain an e-Mark for your product?

An e-Mark proves your vehicle or component complies with the relevant EU/ECE regulations and can be sold in the EU, as well as other regions which have signed up to the ECE vehicle regulations. EU type approval is mandatory for whole vehicles as well as a range of automotive systems and components.

Benefits of an e-Mark include:

• Comply with EU standards to receive certification
• Market access to the EU market and other regions covered by UN ECE regulations
• Unlock growth opportunities
• Avoid product recalls and loss of sales revenue

TÜV SÜD is your one stop solution provider to enter the European automotive market

TÜV SÜD is your global partner for exporting vehicles and components to the EU with confidence. Our local experts provide type approval and homologation services for the various vehicle categories defined in the EU, such as passenger cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles and vehicles that are derived from motorcycles, trailers and agricultural and forestry vehicles. We also provide homologation services for a comprehensive range of automotive systems (e.g. heating, or antitheft systems) and components (e.g. coupling devices, brakes, lamps or tyres) to help you meet the relevant EU directives and ensure that your products are certified with the e-Mark.

Supported by our global network of testing facilities and homologation experts, we offer a comprehensive range of e-Mark certification services in accordance with the following EU framework regulations:

• Regulation (EU) 2018/858 (former Directive 2007/46/EC)
• Regulation (EU) 167/2013
• Regulation (EU) 168/2013

For self-propelled working machinery that is not covered by these vehicle categories, we are appointed by the German government for national type approval testing. Additionally, we are appointed by the German type approval authority “Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA)” to carry out conformity of production (CoP) clearance testing and inspection. Particularly for manufacturers outside of the EU, this helps reduce the costs of homologation.

The e-mark certification process

Obtaining the e-Mark involves a comprehensive assessment of the product’s performance as well as a thorough appraisal of the testing facility. The EU/ECE type approval can be complex, so using an independent, third party technical service team can support you at every step and ensure that nothing is missed. Once all technical documentation and the test report is completed, and conformity of production clearance has been granted, applicants will be issued with a type approval certificate. Manufacturers are then able to affix the type approval mark to their compliant components and issue certificates of conformity (CoC) for vehicles using them.

THE EU REGULATED TYPE APPROVAL PROCESS

TÜV SÜD’s EU type approval services

Our EU/ECE certification services support manufacturers throughout the entire homologation process, including:

• Quoting of homologation projects
• Advising of the most appropriate testing approval route (in case of several options)
• Selecting test specimens
• Preparing the required documentation (Information folder)
• Advising on legislation changes and/or required approval updates

To minimise time and optimise investment, TÜV SÜD also provides multi regulation management services, which identify the overlaps and evolving requirements of different regulations so that you can achieve multiple certifications within a single project.