Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/535 of 31 March 2021 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2019/2144 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards uniform procedures and technical specifications for the type-approval of vehicles, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, as regards their general construction characteristics and safety (Text with EEA relevance)

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

1. ‘vehicle type’ means a set of vehicles as defined in Part B of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2018/858;

2. ‘vehicle type with regard to the statutory markings’ means vehicles which do not differ in such essential respects as:

   1. the composition of the vehicle identification number;

   2. the characteristics and location of the statutory markings;

3. ‘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;

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

5. ‘vehicle type with regard to the space for mounting and fixing of registration plates’ means vehicles which do not differ in such essential respects as:

   1. the dimensions of the space for mounting and fixing of the front and rear registration plates;

   2. the location of the space for mounting and fixing of the front and rear registration plates;

   3. the shape of the surface for mounting and fixing of the front and rear registration plates;

6. ‘vehicle type with regard to the windscreen wiper and washer system’ means vehicles which do not differ in such essential respects as the characteristics of the wiper and washer system or the shape, size and characteristics of the windscreen and its mounting;

7. ‘type of windscreen washer system’ means a group of windscreen washer systems which do not differ in such essential respects as the pump performance, materials used, storage capacity, number of nozzles, sizes, wall thicknesses or shape of the washer system;

8. ‘windscreen wiper system’ means the system consisting of a device for wiping the outer face of the windscreen, together with the accessories and controls necessary for starting and stopping the device;

9. ‘windscreen washer system’ means the system consisting of devices for storing, transferring and aiming fluid towards the outer face of the windscreen, together with the controls necessary for starting and stopping the device;

10. ‘vehicle type with regard to wheel guards’ means vehicles which do not differ in such essential respects as the characteristics of the wheel guards or the minimum and maximum tyre and wheel sizes suitable for fitment, taking into account the applicable tyre envelopes, rim sizes and wheel off-sets;

11. ‘vehicle type with regard to the windscreen defrosting and demisting systems’ means vehicles which do not differ in such essential respects as:

    1. the characteristics of the defrosting and demisting systems;

    2. the external and internal forms and arrangements within the 180^o forward field of vision area of the driver which may affect visibility;

    3. the shape, size, thickness and characteristics of the windscreen and its mounting;

    4. the maximum number of seating positions;

12. ‘defrosting system’ means the system intended to eliminate frost or ice on the outside surface of the windscreen;

13. ‘demisting system’ means the system intended to remove mist on the inside surface of the windscreen;

14. ‘vehicle type with regard to the towing devices’ means vehicles which do not differ in such essential respects as the characteristics of the towing devices;

15. ‘towing device’ means a device in the shape of a hook, eye or other form, to which a connecting part, such as a towing bar or towing rope, can be fitted;

16. ‘vehicle type with regard to spray suppression’ means complete, incomplete or completed vehicles, which do not differ with respect to the following aspects:

    1. type of spray suppression device installed on the vehicle;

    2. manufacturer's spray suppression system type designation;

17. ‘type of spray suppression device’ means devices which do not differ with respect to the following main characteristics:

    1. the physical principle adopted in order to reduce emissions (water-energy absorption, air/water separator);

    2. materials;

    3. shape;

    4. dimensions, in so far as they may influence the behaviour of the material;

18. ‘spray suppression system’ means a system that reduces the pulverization of water thrown upwards by the tyres of a vehicle in motion and which is made up of a mudguard, rain flaps and valances equipped with a spray suppression device;

19. ‘spray suppression device’ means part of the spray suppression system, which may comprise an air/water separator and an energy absorber;

20. ‘vehicle type with regard to the gear shift indicator (GSI)’ means vehicles which do not differ in such essential respects as the functional characteristics of the GSI and the logic used by the GSI to determine when to indicate a gearshift point, including:

    1. upshifts indicated at specified engine speeds;

    2. upshifts indicated when specific fuel consumption engine maps show that a specified minimum fuel consumption improvement will be delivered in the higher gear;

    3. upshifts indicated when torque demand can be met in the higher gear;

21. ‘functional characteristics of the GSI’ means the set of input parameters, such as engine speed, power demand, torque and their variation in time, determining the GSI indication and the functional dependence of the GSI indications on these parameters;

22. ‘vehicle type with regard to vehicle access’ means vehicles which do not differ in such essential respects as the characteristics of door entry steps, handholds and running boards;

23. ‘vehicle type with regard to reversing motion’ means vehicles which do not differ in such essential respects as the characteristics of the reversing device;

24. ‘vehicle type with regard to the masses and dimensions’ means vehicles which do not differ in any of the following aspects:

    1. trade name or mark of their manufacturer;

    2. classification;

    3. main function;

25. ‘aerodynamic devices and equipment’ means devices or equipment that are designed to reduce the aerodynamic drag of road vehicles with the exception of elongated cabs;

26. ‘type of hydrogen storage system’ means an assembly of components which do not differ in such essential respects as the state of stored hydrogen fuel or compressed gas, the nominal working pressure, the structure, materials, capacity and physical dimensions of the container as well as the structure, materials and essential characteristics of the pressure relief devices, check valves and shut-off valves;

27. ‘vehicle type with regard to hydrogen safety’ means a group of vehicles which do not differ in such essential respects as the basic configuration and main characteristics of the vehicle’s hydrogen fuel system;

28. ‘type of hydrogen component’ means a group of hydrogen components which do not differ in such essential respects as the state of stored hydrogen fuel or compressed gas, the function of the component and its structure, materials and physical dimensions.