EN   EN 
 
 
 EUROPEAN  
COMMISSION   
Brussels, XXX   
[…](2018) XXX  draft  
 
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) …/…  
of XXX  
amending Regulation (EU) No 1230/2012 as regards type -approval requirements for 
certain motor vehicles fitted with elongated cabs and for aerodynamic devices and 
equipment for motor vehicles and their trailers  
(Text with EEA relevance)    
EN 1  EN COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) …/…  
of XXX  
amending Regulation (EU) No 1230/2012 as regards type -approval requirements for 
certain motor vehicles fitted with elongated cabs and for aerodynamic devices and 
equipment for motor vehicles and their trailers  
(Text with EEA relevance)  
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,  
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,  
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the 
Council of 13 July 2009 concerning type -approval requirements for the general safety of 
motor vehicles, their trailers and systems, components and separate technical units intended 
therefor1, and in pa rticular Article 14(1)(a)  thereof,  
Whereas:  
(1) Commission Regulation (EU) No 1230/20122 implements Regulation (EC) No 
661/2009 through laying down requirements for the  EC type-approval of motor 
vehicles and their trailers with regard to their masses and dimen sions.  
(2) Aerodynamic devices and equipment, such as for instance retractable or foldable flaps 
attached to the rear of trucks and their trailers , as well as aerodynamically shaped 
elongated cabs are currently available technology with a potential for improvi ng the 
aerodynamic performance of vehicles. However, due to their design, those devices and 
equipment or those cabs may project beyond the outermost part at the front, back or 
laterally of the  vehicles on which they are fitted. Therefore, vehicles fitted w ith such 
devices and equipment or cabs should be exempted from the requirements relating to 
the standard dimensions.  
(3) Council Directive 96/53/EC3 was amended by Directive (EU) 2015/719 of the 
European Parliament and of the Council4 to provide for a derogation from the 
maximum length and weight restrictions in order to allow the use of motor vehicles 
with improved aerodynamic  characteristics and alternatively fuelled motor vehicles, 
respectively, in cross -border traffic.  
                                                 
1 OJ L 200, 31.7.2009, p. 1.  
2 Commission Regulation (EU) No 1230/2012 of 12 December 2012 implementing Regulation (EC) No 
661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to type -approval requirements for 
masses and dimensions of motor vehicles and their trailers and amending Directive 2007/46/EC of the 
European Parliament and of the Council  (OJ L 353, 21.12.2012, p. 31 ). 
3 Council Directive 96/53/EC of 25 July 1996 laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the 
Community the maximum authorised dimensions  in national and international traffic and the maximum 
authorised weights in international traffic  (OJ L 235, 17.9.1996, p. 59 ). 
4 Directive (EU) 2015/719 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 amending 
Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the 
maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised 
weights in international traffic (OJ L 115, 6.5.2015, p. 1) .  
EN 2  EN (4) With a view to ensur ing cohe rence between EC type -approval legislation and the 
harmonised rules for road vehicles circulating within the Union , it is necessary to lay 
down type -approval requirements  for motor vehicles with elongated cabs and for 
aerodynamic equipment or devices in or der to ensure that they provide benefits in 
terms of energy performance, better visibility for drivers, safety to other road users as 
well as safety and comfort for drivers.  
(5) Aerodynamic devices and equipment should be type -approved as separate technical 
units. For that reason, it is necessary to set out specific requirements for their approval 
before being placed on the market . Elongated cabs should be subject to a vehicle type-
approval , respectively .  
(6) Compliance with the upcoming CO 2 emission standards for  heavy duty vehicles  will 
require the application of various technologies to improve energy efficiency. One of 
the most efficient measures to improve energy efficiency is to reduce air drag  of motor 
vehicles .  
(7) Retractable or foldable aerodynamic devices at tached to the rear of trucks and their 
trailers and aerodynamic devices and equipment of cabs  should be constructed in such 
a way to ensure that they do not impair the capability of the vehicle to be used for 
intermodal transport.  
(8) Alternatively fuelled mot or vehicles should benefit from extra weight allowance. The 
additional weight required for the alternative fuel technology should be clearly 
indicated on the manufacturer’s statutory plate . 
(9) Regulation (EU) No 1230 /2012 should therefore be amended accordingly.  
(10) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of 
the Technical Committee  – Motor Vehicles , 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:  
Article 1  
Regulation (EU) No 1230/2012 is amended as follows : 
(1) in Article 1 , paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:  
'This Regulation lays down the requirements for the EC type -approval of motor 
vehicles  and their trailers with regard to their masses and dimensions  as well as  of 
certain separate technical unit s intended for  those vehicles .';  
(2) Article 2 is amended as follows:  
(a) points  (25) and (26)  are replaced by the following:  
'(25) 'wheelbase' means the following:  
(a) for motor vehicles and drawbar trailers, the horizontal distance between 
the centre of the fi rst and the last axle;  
(b) for centre -axle trailers, semi -trailers and rigid drawbar trailers, the 
distance between the vertical axis of the coupling and the centre of the 
last axle;  
(26) 'axle spacing' means the distance between two consecutive axles; for 
centre axle trailers, semi -trailers and rigid drawbar trailers, the first axle  
EN 3  EN spacing is the horizontal distance between the vertical axis of the front 
coupling and the centre of the first axle;';  
(b) point (33) is replaced by the following:  
'(33) 'rear swing -out' means the distance between the actual extreme point 
reached by the rear end of a vehicle when manoeuvring in the conditions 
specified in Section 8 of Part B of Annex I or in Section 7 of Part C of 
that Annex;';  
(c) the following point  (41) is added : 
'(41) ‘ aerodynamic devices and equipment’ mean devices or equipment that are 
designed to reduce the aerodynamic drag of road vehicles , with the 
exception of elongated cabs .' 
(3) the following Article s 4a and 4b  are inserted:  
'Article 4a  
EC separate technic al unit  type-approval of aerodynamic devices and equipment  
1. The manufacturer or his representative shall submit to the type -approval authority the 
application for EC type-approval of an aerodynamic device or equipment as a separate 
technical unit . 
The application shall be drawn up in accordance with the model of the information document 
set out in Part C of Annex V.  
2. If the relevant requirements  set out in this Regulation are met, the approval authority shall 
grant an EC separate technical unit  type-approval and issue a type -approval number in 
accordance with the numbering system set out in Annex VII to Directive 2007/46/EC  
A Member State shall not assign the same number to another type of separate technical unit . 
3. For the purposes of paragraph 2, the type -approval authority shall deliver an EC type -
approval certificate established in accordance with the model set out in Part D of Annex V.  
Article 4b  
EC separate technical unit  type-approval mark  
Every separate technical unit  conforming to a type in respect of which EC separate technical 
unit type-approval has been granted pursuant to this Regulation shall bear an EC separate 
technical unit  type-approval mark as set out in Part E of Annex V.' ; 
 
(4) Annex I is amended in accord ance with Annex I to this Regulation.  
(5) Annex V is amended in accordance with Annex II to this Regulation.  
  
EN 4  EN Article 2 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth  day following that of its publication in 
the Official Journal of the European Un ion. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.  
Done at Brussels,  
 For the Commission  
 The President  
 Jean -Claude Juncker