Specially Produced Motor Vehicles

Background

Pictures of Vintage Motor Vehicles In 2015, the United States (US) congress passed H.R. 22, the “Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act.” The legislation allowed less stringent emissions and safety requirements for low-volume manufacturers of new light-duty vehicles that look like previously produced vehicles or specially produced motor vehicles (SPMV). US Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration were directed to develop emissions and safety regulations to provide a path to compliance for the manufacturers of SPMV. Industry was interested in having similar requirements applicable in California.

What is SPMV?

An SPMV is a turnkey passenger car or light-duty truck produced by a low-volume manufacturer. A low-volume manufacturer as defined in H.R. 22 is a manufacturer who produces less than 5,000 vehicles worldwide and limits the sale of SPMV to 325 per year nationwide. An SPMV must resemble the body of a motor vehicle that was produced for sale not less than 25 years ago. It is commonly referred to as a “Replica Car,” like a 1960’s Camaro or Mustang. The vehicle is a newly produced vehicle by a manufacturer for sale to the public. The SPMV is different than a specially constructed vehicle which is a vehicle produced by an individual for their own private use. CARB has separate regulations to certify clean engine packages for use in specially constructed vehicles.

Related Rulemaking Activity

CARB conducted a public hearing on October 25, 2018, in Sacramento, to discuss the proposed certification process for light-duty engine packages for use in new light-duty specially produced motor vehicles. The rulemaking was approved on July 5, 2019, with an effective date of October 1, 2019. The final regulation order is posted: California Regulation and Certification Procedures for Light- Duty Engine Packages for Use in New Light-Duty Specially-Produced Motor Vehicles for 2019 and Subsequent Years.

Existing Laws and Procedures

California Certification Procedures and Regulations For 2019 And Subsequent Model Years Specially-Produced Motor Vehicles and For Light-Duty Engine Packages For Use In New Light-Duty Specially-Produced Motor Vehicles

The following are California's Specially-Produced Motor Vehicles related regulations and Certification Procedures:

Exhaust Regulations and Test Procedures

The following are California's regulations and test procedures for low-emission vehicles (LEV) in the passenger car, light-duty truck, and chassis certified medium-duty vehicle classes.

The "California 2015 and Subsequent Model Criteria Pollutant Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures and 2017 and Subsequent Model Greenhouse Gas Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium-Duty Vehicles," as of October 8, 2015, (last amended September 2, 2015.)

The California exhaust regulations reference the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA's) test procedures in Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 86, Subparts B, C, and S. These procedures are available from the U.S. EPA's Certification and Compliance for On-road Vehicles and Engines web page.

Evaporative and Refueling Test Procedures

The following are California's evaporative and refueling regulations and test procedures for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and chassis certified medium-duty vehicles.

The "California Evaporative Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 2001 and Subsequent Model Motor Vehicles," last amended September 2, 2015.
The “California Refueling Emission Standards And Test Procedures For 2001 And Subsequent Model Motor Vehicles,” last amended September 2, 2015.

The California evaporative regulations reference the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA's) test procedures in Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 86, Subparts A, B, and S. These procedures are available from the U.S. EPA's Certification and Compliance for On-road Vehicles and Engines web page.