Government Requirements and Voluntary Standards - International Considerations

National and international government requirements affect the design of motor vehicles and their components for each market area. If participation in market areas beyond the home territory is contemplated, planners and engineers should have an understanding of the process by which regulations are developed and, also, what government approvals are required in order to sell their products in each of those markets.

This paper is intended to give a brief overview of terms that must be understood, how governments develop and implement their requirements, and the role voluntary standards play in the process.