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Vehicle Type Approval opt-in rate worries HVIA

Time seen running out before last minute rush

 

Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) has registered concern at the reportedly slow take up the Vehicle Type Approval (VTA) ‘opt-in’.

The federal department of transport and infrastructure revealed at this week’s Road Vehicle Standards Act (RVSA) implementation workshop webinar heard that some 12% of existing truck Identity Plate Approvals (IPAs) have been converted to VTAs so far, HVIA noted.

Heavy trailer manufacturers are said to have also been slow off the mark opting into the VTA process.

VTAs were introduced when the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA) replaced the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (MVSA), effective on July 1 this year.

Holders of some approvals under the (MVSA) can transition to a vehicle type approval via the opt-in process.

HVIA national policy and government relations manager Greg Forbes revealed he is concerned that busy manufacturers do not appreciate the consequences of letting this important administrative task slide.

“These levels are alarmingly low compared to the projected take-up at this stage of the RVSA transition process,” Forbes said.

“It is important that manufacturers understand the transition arrangements, because it would appear that this job keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the in-tray.”

Forbes explained that there is no automatic transition for Identity Plate Approval Holders who wish to continue to supply vehicles to market after the end of the 12-month transition period.

“Manufacturers who do not choose to ‘opt-in’ will have to complete a new Vehicle Type Approval application for every vehicle they want to keep selling after 30 June 2022,” he said.

“If manufacturers don’t take advantage of the cheaper opt-in process, they will need to put in a full VTA application for each vehicle which is likely to be substantially more costly.”

The opt-in option is only available until December 31 , 2021, however the department has indicated that applications submitted after December 1 are at risk of not being processed before the deadline.

 

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