The BVRLA has claimed that the introduction of European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) for light vans in April 2013 has the potential to cause a headache for fleet operators.
The new rules will require additional approval for modifications made to commercials up to 3.5 tonnes, which is commonplace for vans.
The BVRLA’s fear is that individual vehicles will have to be consistently inspected, tested and approved. The Vehicle Certification Agency said it would adopt “a light touch” to common modifications, but BVRLA chief executive John Lewis retorted: “While the VCA’s ‘light touch’ proposal is a step in the right direction, there are still too many unanswered questions and we are very concerned that the system will not be able to cope with this potential new surge in type-approval testing.
“This could have a major effect on lead times for fleet van operators, who need to get to grips with the potential time and cost implications involved.”
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