Suppliers of thousands of specially adapted commercial vehicles such as ambulances and wheelchair accessible vehicles used by fleets in the UK are said to be threatened by a failure to prepare for forthcoming European regulations relating to Whole Vehicle Type Approval. So says the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), who claim that small and medium-sized businesses could shut down overnight if they do not act now to meet complex new laws.

Raising the issue, SMMT Chief Executive Paul Everitt, said, "Whole vehicle type approval is a hugely important part of getting a vehicle on the road as it ensures that technical and safety standards are consistently met across Europe, but businesses could be at risk if they don't prepare now. SMMT has created 'SENTA' a simple interactive guide that helps vehicle manufacturers and bodybuilders to simply and quickly achieve Type Approval, allowing them to continue to sell their products across Europe and protecting valuable UK businesses and jobs."

Under what is known as European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA), hundreds of individual Type Approval elements are combined to ensure manufactured vehicles meet strict safety and technical regulations.

From April 29th 2012, manufacturers, converters and bodybuilders of category M1 Special Purpose Vehicles will have to seek Type Approval to register vehicles across Europe. This will impact firms making motor-caravans, ambulances and hearses to armoured vehicles and wheelchair accessible vehicles with up to eight seats. The same rules extend to trucks on October 29th. Type Approval became mandatory in October 2011 for all minibuses, buses and coaches, plus single-stage built trucks (mass under 3.5 tonnes).

The SMMT's European and National Type Approval (SENTA) guide streamlines the process of applying for type approval. The system simplifies complex legislation, saving time and money and is free to use by all SMMT members.

To find out more about Type Approval and how SMMT's SENTA tool can help, visit http://senta.smmt.co.uk . Also, on 25 April at the CV Show (NEC, Birmingham), SMMT will host a series of workshops introducing type approval, what to be aware of and how to get approval simply, easily and quickly. For more information and to register, go to http://senta.smmt.co.uk