Article 1Scope

This Regulation applies to complete and incomplete vehicles of categories M, N and O.

Article 2Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation,

  1. (1)

    ‘manufacturer’s statutory plate’ means a plate or label, affixed by the manufacturer on a vehicle that provide the main technical characteristics which are necessary for the identification of the vehicle and provides the competent authorities with the relevant information concerning the permissible maximum laden masses;

  2. (2)

    ‘vehicle identification number’ (VIN) means the alphanumeric code assigned to a vehicle by the manufacturer in order to ensure proper identification of every vehicle;

  3. (3)

    ‘vehicle type’ means a set of vehicles as defined in Annex II, Part B to Directive 2007/46/EC.

Article 3Provisions for EC type-approval of a type of vehicle with regard to the manufacturer’s statutory plate and the vehicle identification number

1.

The manufacturer or his representative shall submit to the type-approval authority the application for EC type-approval of a type of vehicle as regard the lay-out and the location of the manufacturer’s statutory plate and the composition and the location of the vehicle identification number.

2.

The application shall be drawn up in accordance with the model information document set out in Part A of Annex III.

3.

If deemed necessary by the approval authority or the technical service, the manufacturer shall make available a vehicle representative of the type to be approved for the purposes of inspection.

4.

If the relevant requirements set out in Annex I and Annex II to this Regulation are met, the approval authority shall grant a type-approval in accordance with the numbering system set out in Annex VII to Directive 2007/46/EC.

A Member State may not assign the same number to another vehicle type.

5.

For the purpose of paragraph 4, the type-approval authority shall deliver an EC type-approval certificate established in accordance with the model set out in Part B of Annex III.

Article 4Validity and extension of EC type-approvals granted under Directive 76/114/EEC

National authorities shall permit the sale and entry into service of vehicles type-approved before the date referred to in Article 13(2) of Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 and shall continue to grant extension to approvals granted under the terms of Directive 76/114/EEC.

Article 5Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 February 2011.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 11 January 2011.

For the Commission

The President

José Manuel Barroso