(1) Reasons for Proposal

Notwithstanding the fact that a separate authentication system applicable to motor vehicles produced in small quantities became effective under Article 30 paragraph 5 of the “Motor Vehicle Act,” there has been no self-authenticated motor vehicle based on the said system. Therefore, this Amendment aims to reduce the standards for motor vehicles produced in small quantities to allow the manufacturers to produce various and distinctive motor vehicles, to improve and supplement the system by means such as clarifying its applicable scope and procedure, while introducing the concept of total weight allowed for manufacturing that requires the initial manufacturers of motor vehicles to guarantee safety standards and applying the said concept to the standards for tuning approval to enable less regulated tuning.  In addition, the Amendment aims to devise grounds for simplifying tuning approval procedure for part of the devices required to obtain tuning approval to vitalize motor vehicle tuning and devise grounds for excluding non-essential structures and devices announced by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for two-wheeled vehicles from those subject to tuning approval, just like general motor vehicles, thereby improving and supplementing some defects found in the operation of the current system. 

(2) Major Provisions

A. Modification to the indication reporting method for identification number, etc. (Article 17 (1))

1) Where a person who engages in manufacturing and assembling motor vehicles or engines intends to indicate the identification number or engine model, the current Act requires him/her to attach a 17-digit indication manual to the indication enforcement notice for identification number (engine model) and submit both the notice and manual to the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, but the engine model is not 17 digits, and thus, the Amendment aims to modify the “17-digit indication manual” to the “indication manual.”

B. Introduce the concept of the total weight allowed for manufacturing to clarify the manufacturing scope of special vehicle manufacturers and expand the scope of available tuning for tuning approval applications (Article 36 (2) 1, Article 55 (2) 1, and Form 25)

1) Set the total weight allowed for manufacturing as the maximum value for the total weight of the motor vehicle that the manufacturer guarantees for the motor vehicle safety standards, excluding fuel consumption rate, and where a performance test agent receives an application for technical review from a manufacturer, etc., allow the agent to conduct a review in consideration of the said matters. 

2) Currently, tuning that increases the total weight of motor vehicle is prohibited for tuning approval, but enable the application of the total weight allowed for manufacturing, if it exists, to expand the scope of tuning, thus vitalizing tuning. 

C. Add the maximum motor output and fuel consumption rate to the list that allow manufacturers, etc., to file a notification of specification modification without any need to receive a technical review from the performance test agent and modify pertinent phrases accordingly (Article 36 (3))

D. Mitigation of standards for the number of vehicles produced in small quantities, etc. (Article 39-3 (1) and (3))

1) Previously, the standards for motor vehicles produced in small quantities were those manufactured and assembled in a quantity not exceeding 100, but reduce the standards to the motor vehicles manufactured and assembled in a quantity not exceeding 300 within 3 years and clarify applicable motor vehicles. 

E. Improvement in the self-authentication method for motor vehicles produced in small quantities (Article 39-5)

 1) Previously, a person who intended to self-authenticate motor vehicles produced in small quantities was required to self-authenticate safety standards related to automobile crash and impact by using a strength calculation statement, but since there has been no self-authentication so far, allow the motor vehicle self-authentication according to the detailed checking method for each safety standard set and announced by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

F. Improvement in the relevant procedures due to the reduced standard number of motor vehicles produced in small quantities and less strict self-authentication method, etc. (Article 36 (1) 6, Article 39-4 (1) through (3))

1) For a person who intends to self-authenticate motor vehicles produced in small quantities applies for a technical review to a performance test agent, make an improvement to allow the said person to submit documents that the manufacturer verifies the conformity to safety standards applied to the motor vehicles produced in small quantities. 

2) Add description data for the recognition of motor vehicles produced in small quantities to the documents required for any person who intends to submit an application for recognition of motor vehicles. 

3) Where the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport receives an application for recognition of motor vehicles produced in small quantities, 

allow the performance test agent to review the conditions required for the recognition and operation of the motor vehicles produced in small quantities subject to application. 

4) Allow the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to add conditions necessary for securing safety when issuing a certificate of recognition for motor vehicles produced in small quantities. 

G. Among the devices required to obtain approval to mitigate the tuning approval procedure, newly set devices allowed to apply for approval exemption and receive only tuning test (proviso to Article 55 (1) 2, Article 56 (1) through (3), and Article 78 (2))

1) Allow the power transmission system among those in Article 8 (2) 1, the freight box cover of the pick-up freight motor vehicle among the goods-loading devices in Article 8 (2) 10, and the devices in Article 8 (2) 12 and 14 to be regarded to have received tuning approval insofar as they had applied for tuning approval exemption and received an exemption certificate for tuning approval, and to undergo tuning work and tuning test. 

H. Improvement in the tuning approval system for two-wheeled motor vehicles (Article 107 (1) and (2) and Article 108 (2) through (6))

1) As for any tuning of a minor structure or a device set by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, devise the grounds to exclude the tuning approval for two-wheeled motor vehicles. 

2) Supplement and improve other defects found in the operation of the tuning approval system for two-wheeled motor vehicles.