Not all that "gold": in Russia, foreign cars will be rechecked for safety
Additional checks of their compliance with the parameters specified in the certification documents may be introduced for vehicles manufactured abroad. This will avoid situations where some foreign manufacturers submit "gold" samples for certification that differ from the production models. Izvestia found out by what parameters it is planned to check cars of foreign brands.
Not to believe, but to check
Russia may strengthen control over the compliance of the parameters of vehicles imported into the country with the data specified in their certification documents. This is provided for by the draft government decree developed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
According to the document, before obtaining an electronic passport of a vehicle or chassis for models manufactured abroad, it will be necessary to carry out an additional identification procedure for such vehicles. It involves an inspection by specialists of an authorized expert organization of the vehicle itself and its factory-marked components, without disassembling the vehicle and with photo and video recording.
"Currently, almost all representatives of foreign manufacturers from unfriendly countries have stopped their activities in the Russian market. They no longer provide for the key provision of the technical regulations of the Customs Union "On the safety of wheeled vehicles" concerning joint responsibility with the manufacturer to ensure compliance of imported products with a certified sample. At the same time, according to the previously issued "Vehicle Type Approvals" and "Chassis Type Approvals", vehicles and chassis are imported, in particular through the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union, and electronic vehicle passports are issued for them, while the issue of ensuring their compliance with the certified design type remains open," the message says. explanatory note to the document.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade explained that as part of the identification procedure, specialists will first check the manufacturer's VIN numbers and nameplates, lighting and light alarm devices, glasses, mirrors, cameras, seat belts, sound signals and tires. If necessary, an in-depth inspection can be carried out, involving checking the engine control unit, the components of the intake and exhaust system of the internal combustion engine, the elements of the braking system and traction devices.
— Recently, in a number of cases, it has been revealed that individual copies of vehicles from the batch do not match the previously certified type. In addition, large batches of imported vehicles may have design differences from the "golden sample" for which "Vehicle Type Approval" has been obtained. The proposed measure will additionally ensure that the vehicle design meets all necessary safety parameters and prevent the commissioning of vehicles that pose a potential threat to the life and health of road users, the ministry's press service said.
The check showed it...
The proposal of the Ministry of Industry and Trade is aimed at ensuring compliance with the established parameters of the Technical Regulations of all vehicles imported into Russia, and not just copies submitted for certification — the so-called "gold samples", told Izvestia in JSC "Electronic Passport". Its implementation will require the digitalization of a number of processes, but at the same time it will allow identifying specific machines that do not meet certain standards, the organization stressed.
— As part of the pilot testing of the identification service, a random check of a number of vehicles was carried out. It showed that according to some parameters, such as tires, the tested cars did not meet the parameters stated in the conformity assessment documents, the Electronic Passport JSC told Izvestia.
It all depends on practice.
Igor Morzharetto, an auto expert and partner at the Autostat analytical agency, recalled that during the production of cars, some copies at the car factories themselves undergo additional selective special control.
— For example, from a certain batch of finished bodies, one or two copies are sent to check the strength of the welds. This is a common global practice. And if the intended identification is carried out according to approximately the same principle, it is fully justified," he told Izvestia.
The initiative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade certainly has a rational grain, says Maxim Kadakov, editor-in-chief of Za Rulem magazine. The situation when there are cars on the roads that differ in their parameters from the certified versions is unacceptable, he emphasizes.
— A lot will depend on how this proposal is implemented in practice. It is important that such checks do not turn into a "nightmare for business," says the editor—in-chief of Za Rulem.
Safety above all
The introduction of additional checks will require additional costs, which may eventually affect the price of the cars themselves, says Valery Soldunov, a member of the Public Chamber and chairman of the All-Russian Society of Motorists. However, if we are talking about ensuring the safety of road users, the costs are fully justified, he is sure.
— I don't think that such checks will significantly affect the cost of the car. Even if it goes up by 1-2% because of this, the guarantee that this car fully meets the safety requirements more than compensates for these potential costs," Valery Soldunov told Izvestia.
The recent ban by Rosstandart on the release into circulation of a number of models of Chinese trucks and special vehicles has clearly demonstrated serious problems in the certification of both foreign-made vehicles and their components, said Anton Shaparin, Vice President of the National Automobile Union (NAS).
— Unfortunately, there is a situation in this area where "seven nannies have a child without an eye": one agency oversees the structures that issue permits, conduct tests and certifications, and another determines standards and regulatory requirements, as well as maintains a register. It is necessary that all issues of certification and conformity assessment of vehicles are in the same hands," the NAS Vice President is convinced.
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