The Ministry of Road Transport has proposed making changes to the Production Conformity (CoP) verification regime regarding emission standard compliance for both new and existing vehicle models. This initiative aims to reduce regulatory burden and increase ease of doing business for car manufacturers.
Changes in Testing Frequency
According to the submitted draft, for new passenger cars and two-wheeled vehicles, the CoP test will be conducted annually for the first three years after receiving type approval, and then every three years. However, for larger passenger, freight, and heavy commercial vehicles, CoP testing will remain annual.
Regime for Existing Models
Regarding already produced models, the frequency of testing will be reduced to once every three years for two-wheeled vehicles, passenger cars, large passenger, freight, and heavy commercial vehicles. Previously, the CoP test for all passenger car models was conducted annually, while for two-wheeled transport, which is produced in significantly larger volumes, the testing frequency varied from every three months to once a year depending on production volume.
Essence of the CoP Process
CoP is a regulatory verification procedure that ensures that mass-produced vehicles continue to comply with the initial specifications approved upon type approval. An official representative noted that the proposed policy decouples the frequency of CoP testing from the volume of vehicles produced or imported. However, manufacturers and importers must strengthen their quality control systems and ensure continuous adherence to standards, as discovering any defect or deviation after three years could lead to the risk of recalling a large number of vehicles, especially two-wheelers.
Testing Procedure
Under the CoP regime, testing agencies randomly select vehicles from production lines, dealerships, or the open market to conduct emission compliance tests. All costs for these tests are borne by the vehicle manufacturer itself.
