Classification of motor vehicles by energy source in Vietnam from January 1, 2025

Classification of motor vehicles by energy source in Vietnam from January 1, 2025​ (Image from the internet)

On November 15, 2024, the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam issued Circular 53/2024/TT-BGTVT to guide the classification of road transport vehicles starting January 1, 2025.

Classification of motor vehicles by energy source in Vietnam from January 1, 2025

Circular 53/2024/TT-BGTVT provides regulations on the classification of road transport vehicles and the identification features of motor vehicles using clean, green, environmentally friendly energy.

According to Article 9 of Circular 53/2024/TT-BGTVT, the classification of motor vehicles by energy source is as follows:

According to the type of energy sourced, motor vehicles (excluding trailers and semi-trailers) are categorized as follows:

(1) Motor vehicles with engines using gasoline or diesel fuel only;

(2) Environmentally friendly motor vehicles are those using energy or technology that reduces direct carbon emissions during operation compared to conventional motor vehicles mentioned in (1) (such as vehicles using CNG fuel, mild hybrid electric vehicles MHEV, fully hybrid electric vehicles FHEV or SHEV, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles PHEV);

(3) Motor vehicles using clean, green, and environmentally friendly energy are those without direct carbon emissions during operation (such as pure electric vehicles PEV or BEV, pure fuel cell electric vehicles PFCEV or FCEV, hydrogen fuel vehicles).

Regulations on identification features of motor vehicles using clean, green, environmentally friendly energy in Vietnam

Motor vehicles using clean, green, environmentally friendly energy are identified according to clause 3, Article 9 of Circular 53/2024/TT-BGTVT.

These vehicles are identified by a green background inspection sticker when participating in traffic.

Details of the sticker model are regulated in the Circular of the Minister of Transport concerning procedures for inspection, initial exemption from inspection, customization of motor vehicles, and specialized machinery; procedures for motorbike and motorcycle emissions inspection.

Regulations on smart transport vehicles in Vietnam

Smart transport vehicles, as regulated in clause 4, Article 34 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024, are classified according to levels of partial or full automation in operating vehicle control. To be specific:

(1) Motor vehicles allowing partial automation of vehicle control operations, route determination, and situational handling when participating in road traffic are categorized as Level 1 (Level or Category 1), Level 2 (Level or Category 2), or Level 3 (Level or Category 3) and are defined in the standard ISO/SAE PAS 22736:2021 Taxonomy and definitions for terms related to driving automation systems for on-road motor vehicles;

(2) Motor vehicles allowing full automation of vehicle control operations, route determination, and situational handling when participating in road traffic are categorized as Level 4 (Level or Category 4) or Level 5 (Level or Category 5) and are defined in the standard ISO/SAE PAS 22736:2021 Taxonomy and definitions for terms related to driving automation systems for on-road motor vehicles.

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