In Europe, two parallel systems for the certification of motor vehicles and their components exist. EU (European Union) directives and ECE (Economic Commission for Europe, a sub-organization of the United Nations also covering East-European countries) regulations. StVZO German National Requirements also exist.
The European Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA) replacing the individual national type approvals of the EU (European Union) member states is an efficient, economic and convenient system.
Vehicles and electrical/electronic components, including those for aftermarket installation, are subject to the Automotive EMC Directive ; compliance is indicated by the "e" mark.
There are vehicles which are not categorized as passenger cars or trucks such as construction machinery and agricultural machinery. They need a national approval.