[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) is pushing to establish a new vehicle category for 'ultra-compact special vehicles' that align with the slimming urban structure. Through this, they plan to induce the creation of a new complete vehicle market.
According to MOLIT on the 23rd, under the current vehicle classification system (Enforcement Rules of the Motor Vehicle Management Act), ultra-compact vehicle categories exist only for passenger cars and cargo trucks, but not for special vehicles.
Because of this, there have been many criticisms that it is difficult to produce ultra-compact fire trucks, laundry vehicles, and cleaning vehicles, which are active in Europe and other regions, domestically.
MOLIT has set a policy to promote the establishment of this new ultra-compact special vehicle category next year after a thorough review in the ongoing ultra-compact electric special vehicle demonstration project.
Additionally, MOLIT will improve the regulations that act as constraints, such as ▲the minimum cargo bed area standard for ultra-compact cargo trucks and ▲the load capacity of three-wheeled two-wheelers, to better reflect reality.
Since the ultra-compact passenger and cargo vehicle categories were newly established in June 2018, various ultra-compact vehicles have been produced and sold, but the current minimum cargo bed area standard for ultra-compact cargo trucks is regulated the same as general cargo trucks (2㎡ or more), making it difficult to comply with due to manufacturing conditions.
Accordingly, MOLIT will relax the minimum cargo bed area standard from the existing 2㎡ to 1㎡ to better fit reality.
Also, three- and four-wheeled electric vehicles, which were difficult to produce and sell because they were not included in the existing domestic vehicle classification system as two-wheelers, will be classified as two-wheelers to allow entry into the ultra-compact vehicle market.
In the case of three-wheeled two-wheelers, despite meeting safety standards, there was an unreasonable aspect of producing smaller cargo beds due to inconsistency with the vehicle classification system. MOLIT will apply the load capacity in line with safety standards going forward (from 60kg to 100kg).
MOLIT plans to announce the amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Motor Vehicle Management Act, which improves the vehicle classification system, for public comment on the 24th and proceed step-by-step from May.
Kim Sangseok, Director of Vehicle Management at MOLIT, said, "By modernizing the vehicle classification system to match recent advancements in automotive technology and the slimming of urban conditions, we expect positive effects such as inducing the creation of a new ultra-compact vehicle market and creating new jobs in related industries."
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