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Italy
Once all components and systems have been approved, a manufacturer can request approval of the Whole Vehicle Type. Upon submission of the relevant manufacturer’s information document, including reference to the separate type approvals of all systems and components, a European WVTA Certificate will be issued by a type approval authority. The manufacturer shall produce a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) for each vehicle manufactured in conformity with an approved type. A ‘type’ can best be described as a ‘range’ of vehicle models that share fundamental characteristics.
The type approval system also allows for a multi-stage approval procedure that applies when the vehicle is built up in more than one step (e.g. by a chassis manufacturer and a body builder).
The European WVTA certificate of a vehicle type issued by the approval authority of one-member state must be accepted by all other European member states and allows for the registration of a new vehicle all over the EU.
Conformity of Production (CoP) is a vital part of the approval process. The manufacturer must bring evidence of its capacity to maintain compliance with the approved type for each new vehicle manufactured during serial production. This ensures that quality standards are upheld when the vehicle is being produced in large numbers.
A type approval authority or an authorized technical service conducts the necessary tests and authors a test report. It can use the manufacturer´s test facilities if it is satisfied that the equipment and processes applied meet the necessary quality standards. Finally, the approval authority issues a European WVTA approval certificate. The manufacturer is then responsible for ensuring ongoing Conformity of Production (CoP). By issuing and signing the Certificate of Conformity (CoC) the manufacturer takes full responsibility that all separate regulatory acts are met, https://www.acea.be/industry-topics/tag/category/type-approval.The mandatory European legal requirements and certification process can be challenging for U.S. vehicles and parts when exporting to Italy. The Italian regulations on car tuning are more restrictive than the European ones, especially as concerns the mechanical alterations to the vehicle. Most alterations need to be approved by the car manufacturer and highlighted in the documentation that travels with the vehicle. Esthetic alterations are easier but, in many cases,, the products used (e.g. to screen the windows, etc.) need to be homologated. There are no customs duties on imports from European Union (EU) countries. The VAT in Italy is 22 percent. The VAT is applied to all imports, including European and local suppliers. https://www.quattroruote.it/news/curiosita/2019/05/09/personalizzazioni_tuning_tutto_quello_che_c_e_da_sapere_sulle_modifiche_alle_auto.html.
Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA)
Conformity of Production