Type approval process

In order to make the assessment of a type approval a smooth and time-efficient process, it is important that the application and its attachments are correct the first time. Please see below for requirements that needs to be fulfilled before submitting the application.

Manufacturers responsibilities

When granted a type approval you have the right to produce and place that product on the market. At the same time, you are obliged to ensure that the production is maintained in agreement with the issued type approval. Only conforming products are to be brought onto the market.

Manufacturers shall establish procedures to ensure that series production of vehicles, systems, components and separate technical units remains in conformity with the approved type.

Approved test from technical service

In order to verify compliance with technical requirements the manufacturer shall submit test reports to the approval authority. The Swedish Transport Agency can only accept tests performed by the listed technical services approved by us. These are listed at:

• For UNECE approvals
• For EU type approvals

Initial assessment

Before granting a type approval pursuant to national Swedish, EU or UNECE regulations, the approval authority needs to verify that the manufacturer has established satisfactory arrangements and procedures for ensuring that products are produced in conformity with the approved type. This assessment is carried out by means of an initial assessment, performed either by the Swedish Transport Agency or a technical service Category C.

The initial assessment verifies the existence of adequate product conformity arrangements and documented control plans, This is to be agreed with the manufacturer for each approval, to carry out at specified intervals the tests or associated checks that are necessary to verify continued conformity with the approved type.

The initial assessment can in some cases be carried out by administrative means, if the manufacturer is certified to the standard EN ISO 9001:2015, or an equivalent certification standard satisfying the initial assessment standards requirements, provided that conformity of production is covered by the quality management system, and that the manufacturers type approval has not been withdrawn due to unsatisfactory control of conformity of production.

More information

For more information regarding the procedures for initial assessment please contact us on CoP@transportstyrelsen.se.

After an approved initial assessment the manufacturer, or its representative, shall apply to STA via the application form to get the process started.

Application form for type approval

The application shall include:

• Application form
• Information document (if applicable)
• Test reports (if applicable)

The application shall be submitted to vag@transportstyrelsen.se. In return you will receive an autogenerated notification. If this notification is not received, please contact us.

Please note that for UNECE type approvals Swedish law require a manufacturer located outside the EES needs to have an appointed representative within the EES.

Cost for issuing type-approvals

The Swedish Transport Agency´s work concerning type approvals is financed through a fixed fee and an hourly fee. Link to information about current fees, please see below.

Fees and charges

Please make sure that you include all necessary information regarding invoicing of these fees on the application form for type approval.

Invoices

If the manufacturer has expressed a wish to have the technical service or other representative receive the invoices, we do need a document from the manufacturer stating that invoicing according to that principle is accepted by the manufacturer.

Our delivery

After assessing and granting a type approval , we will send the complete package to the manufacturer without delay. When required, we will also upload required documentation onto common secure electronic exchange systems.

An approval authority that has granted a type approval shall take the necessary measures to verify that the manufacturer produces the vehicles, systems, components or separate technical units in conformity with the approved type.

The requirements are verified by carrying out a revision (Conformity of Production) where you need to verify that you have procedures to ensure that you are able to manufacture your product in the same way as the type approved product.

This requirements is applicable for all type approvals, both EU and UNECE-regulation.

How does it work in practice?

We require that the manufacturer provides documentation that shows that the requirements are met.

The documentation consists of an assessment report from a quality revision, called Conformity of Production (CoP). The revision can only be made by a technical service (Category C) approved by us. The manufacturer chooses which Technical Service (Category C) they wish to use.

Links to Swedish Transport Agency appointed technical services.

• For UNECE approvals
• For EU type approvals

What documentation do you need?

The technical service you have an agreement with will do a quality audit (CoP-audit). From the CoP-audit the technical service writes a report that they share with you. Any deviations from the audit must be closed before the documentation can be used.

We will then ask you for this report to issue a new CoP-clearance with a new expiry date. Within the new expiry date you will need to perform a new CoP-audit.

It is possible, after an agreement with your technical service, that they handle the communication with us on your behalf.

Reporting of other matters?

If a manufacturer for example changes name, assembly plant, technical service or anything else that may affect the type approval, we must be notified.

You shall also report if your product is not conforming to applicable regulation or if it present a serious risk.

If we find that the conditions for issuing the type approval are no longer fulfilled, we will request the manufacturer to take the necessary measures to ensure that the product(s) are brought into conformity. If not brought into conformity we might have to withdraw your type approval.

Withdrawal initiated by manufacturer

The manufacturer shall withdraw the CoP and type approval in case of;

• vehicles, systems, components or are no longer produces
• establishes that the certificates of conformity no longer comply with required by the relevant legislation.