Glossary
EC motor vehicles are vehicles that are type-approved by the EU, according to a directive from 2007. The directive applies to cars, vans, lorries, buses and coaches. It provides EU countries with a common regulatory framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, as well as of systems, components and separate technical units intended for these vehicles.
Once a manufacturer has received a type approval of a model, it applies in all EU countries. In this context, an EC type-approval means that the entire vehicle is generally approved based on the technical requirements set for the vehicle.
The vehicle can be approved based on a number of different regulations depending on when the vehicle was manufactured and which regulations applied at the time. An EC type-approved vehicle is equipped with a manufacturer's plate containing the vehicle's approval number.
If the vehicle is newly manufactured but does not have type approval, the vehicle must instead undergo a so-called test for individual approval in order to be registered in Sweden. Normally, these are special vehicles that are manufactured in small series and where it is not worthwhile for the manufacturer to obtain a type approval.
