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Type Approval
Also known as: Vehicle Type Approval
Regulator confirmation that a vehicle type meets specified technical requirements before market entry.
Type approval is the regulatory gate that allows a vehicle type to be sold in a given market. Under UNECE R155 and R156 (and India's AIS 189/190 in their enforcement window), cybersecurity and software-update evidence are part of the technical file submitted to the type-approval authority.
Why it matters
Type approval is the commercial gate — no approval, no sale in that market. Because UNECE R155 makes a certified Cybersecurity Management System and cybersecurity evidence part of the technical file, cybersecurity work now sits on the critical path to launch rather than a post-development add-on.
Related terms
UNECE R155
UN Regulation requiring vehicle manufacturers to operate a certified Cybersecurity Management System.
UNECE R156
UN Regulation requiring a certified Software Update Management System for type-approved vehicles.
Cybersecurity Management System (CSMS)
Organisational management system that governs cybersecurity activities for road-vehicle programmes.
AIS 189
India's emerging automotive cybersecurity standard, derived from UN R155.
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