Automotive directive 95/54/EC

Scope    Any vehicle intended for use on the road, being complete and having 4 wheels.
            The scope also includes all electrical and electronic equipment intended for fitment to vehicles.
            Both after market and original equipment.

Exclusions    Vehicles which run on rails and all agricultural and forestry machinery.
            Also electronic equipment which is deemed not part of the vehicle
            e.g. if a compressor is plugged into the lighter socket to inflate the tyres while the car is parked this is excluded.

Approval marks    The only mark for Europe is the ‘e’ mark this is where a item is solely placed on the market for use with vehicles and cannot be used on it’s own.              In this case the item is taken out of the EMCD 89/336/EEC and is covered under 95/54/EC.
            Where the item can be used either in a car or on it’s own it must still comply with the EMCD and carry the CE mark.

Transition dates    Vehicles and products on the market prior to 1 January 1996 may continue to be sold without having to meet 95/54/EC until 1 October 2002.                  Aftermarket components such as electronic devices have the option until 1 October 2002 of continuing to meet the
            EMCD 89/336/EEC or of meeting the automotive directive 95/54/EC.

Market information    2 years ago MIRA opened a brand new EMC facility for component testing in America
            to help cope with the increasing demands of component manufacturers who can’t find test slots.
            The facility they have built has a 1m turntable which means it cannot do whole cars.
            This means a whole new facility has been invested in purely for electronic equipment.
            They quote meeting the requirements of Ford,GM and Chrysler’s as well as FCC regulations.