ATVEA News
11-13 June 2010
ATV Symposium in Beijing, China
At the invitation of CIME, organizer of EICMA CHINA – The Motorcycle Show, and the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) (U.S.), the MIC hosted a two-hour international symposium on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and similar vehicles on 11 June 2010, attended by ATVEA President Herry Kleyn van Willigen. Together with industry and regulatory experts from Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe and the United States, attendants shared information on their respective ATV industries and discussed a number of regulatory issues such as mandatory standards, customer support, testing and certification. The event was attended by 40 representatives from Chinese manufacturers and was also an opportunity for panelists to address industry standards and technical issues in addition to consumer issues, such as market dynamics, safety and vehicle utilization.
For more information on the symposium and contacts from the event, please see: http://www.iwpvi.org. Presentations will soon be available on the same website.
21 January 2010
ATV Presents its Code of Conduct for ATV users
On 20th January 2010 ATVEA launched its European “Code of Conduct for ATV users” . This campaign aims at promoting the safe and responsible use of ATVs by outlining a number of simple rules for ATV users. ATVEA wants to explain that ATVs are useful and fun to ride but reminds us that legislation, other people and the environment have to be respected.
Please find below the ATVEA Press Release and here the link towards the dedicated website (available in 7 European Languages): www.haveagoodride.com
ATVEA Press Release Code of Conduct 22 Jan 2010
14 December 2009
ATV Homologation category discussed in the Motorcycle Working Group
In the framework of the recast of the European Directive 2002/24 related to motorcycle type-approval, ATVEA participated in the Motorcycle Working Group at the European Commission on 14 December 2009. The event featured discussions on the possible ATV category, with 18 EU Member States represented and many stakeholders present.
The main topic for ATVEA was the creation of a homologation category specific to ATVs, as suggested by the European Commission. Member States authorities commented upon the need to create this category and on the criteria to be included in this category. ATVEA re-asserted its position in promoting a correct image of ATVs through the creation and clear definition of the category, taking into account the specificities of ATVs.
The Commission announced that it plans to adopt its Legislative Proposal on 28th April 2010, later than initially expected (April 4th).
10 December 2009
ATVEA represented at Quad Forum in Spain
ATVEA was invited for the first time to participate in the forum Quad y Jet in Madrid, organized on 10 December 2009 by the Spanish users’ association ANUQ and the review “Quad y Jet”. ATVEA representative in Brussels Matthieu Bertrand presented ATVEA’s activities at European level and the situation regarding the European type-approval framework for ATVs.
The event was an occasion for stakeholders from the ‘ATV world’ in Spain to gather and coordinate the creation of a representation at national level, in order to discuss legislation with local authorities and recreate conditions for a stable ATV market in Spain.
The event also featured the presence of Mr. Carlos Antón from INTA (Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial), who provided the debate with fruitful input on possible specifications for ATV type-approval. The Forum was a further opportunity for stakeholders in Spain to consider and learn about ATVEA’s actions at the European level and the need for relay of its activities at a local level.
24 September 2009
ATV demo for the European Commission
On 23rd September 2009, ATVEA organized an ATV Demo for the EU Commission and Member States representatives, in the region of Namur, in the South of Belgium.
Mr. Mattinó, Head of Unit Automotive Industry was representing the Commission together with Mr. Gielen and Mr. Hoekstra; 3 representatives from the Belgian Ministry of Transport and Mobility were also present to learn about and discuss the characteristics of ATVs in light of the discussions on the new framework regulation for the type-approval of L-category vehicles (for motorcycles, mopeds, scooters but also tricycles and quadricycles).
The meeting was a good opportunity for the Commission to understand ATVEA’s approach and position. Mr. Mattinó thanked ATVEA for this useful and unusual exercise.
9 September 2009
pr(EN) document for ATVs available!
The draft standard prepared by the CEN working group for ATVs used in private terrains (CEN TC354/WG2) was officially given a “pr” number. This document, named prEN 15997 is now submitted to CEN members for enquiry; in the same period, the CEN Consultants will check the legal and technical conformity with the requirements of the EU Directive. This document can be referred to by manufacturers in their Declaration of Conformity for the Machinery Directive.
Please contact ATVEA Secretariat for more information.
10 June 2008
EN standard for ATV in the making
At the end of June, the European standardisation working group for ATVs (CEN TC354/WG2) will transmit a draft standard to the European Committee for Normalisation. It is the first step towards an official European standard (so-called EN, for European Norm) for ATVs, protecting consumers from unsafe vehicles. This standard is developed to make it easier to apply the requirements of the European Union’s Machinery Directive. It covers ATVs meant to be used on private terrains.
ATVEA has been involved in this working group since its very beginning, working with National Standardisation bodies, test laboratories and associations of consumers. This standard deals with diverse issues like protection from hot or moving parts, brake performance, noise level... ATVEA’s main role was to provide the technical expertise of its member companies and its experience of standardisation in relation to the American standards (ANSI-2001 and ANSI-2007).
This draft document will now be reviewed by consultants of the European Committee for Normalisation on behalf of the European Commission; they will check the legal and technical conformity with the requirements of the EU Directive. Following their comments, as well as those from National Standardisation Bodies, the working group will sit together at the beginning of 2010 to finalise the work. The final document then has to be voted upon by National Standardisation Bodies. If adopted, it will enter into force in May 2011. All ATVs sold in Europe and complying with this standard will benefit of the “presumption of conformity” with the essential safety requirements of the EU Machinery Directive.
27 October 2008
A fruitful week for ATVEA
ATVEA has been active and successful on several fronts at the end of October.
ATVEA participated on the 20th October in the Motorcycle Working Group chaired by the Unit in charge of the Automotive Industry in the European Commission. Ben van Assche, Chairman of the Technical Committee, Fred Soudain, ATVEA Secretary General and Xavier Noyon, ATVEA Brussels senior representative were present in this meeting gathering Member states type approval authorities and industry representatives. The aim of this meeting was to present the options and scenario which the Commission is considering for the recast of the 2002/24 Directive (homologation of 2-3 wheels motor vehicles, which includes ATVs). Two studies have been commissioned one on aspects relating to safety the other one on the emissions of motorcycles. These two studies should allow the Commission to better assess the impact of the different options presented. ATVEA had the opportunity to present its views as a complement to the position presented by ATVEA in a written response to the Commission’s “non-paper” where the Commission requested comments from the participants on specific questions, insisting on the need for better categorisation and the necessity of homologation. Most of the representatives of Member states expressed their understanding of the necessity for homologation and highlighted their wish to have a clearer and stricter framework for type-approval of quadricycles. In order to build upon this interesting exchange of views, ATVEA has proposed to organise a demo-day on the specificities of ATV the day before the next MCWG in early 2009.
Again in the field of technical activities, ATVEA (with Ben van Assche and Fred Soudain) participated on the 23rd October in the WP29/GRSG meeting in Geneva, in the framework of the UN-ECE, the Economic Commission for Europe inside the United Nations. The aim of this series of meetings is to discuss the idea of regulating the categorisation of vehicles at ECE level (regrouping 56 countries). The European Commission, speaking in the name of the 27 member states of the European Union, had earlier presented plans to transfer the work on categorisation to the working groups of WP29. ATVEA has been questioning the relevance of this idea since the beginning arguing that the specific situation of ATV in the EU should be dealt with at EU level. On the 23rd October, the European Commission actually decided to withdraw its proposal, since the common position of EU Member states on this topic is not clear.
ATVEA made an important step forward the implementation of a program of Education of ATV users in France. On the 23rd October, ATVEA (with Jos Wagner, President of the Education Committee plus Xavier Noyon and Matthieu Bertrand, ATVEA Brussels representatives) has organised a meeting with representatives from EASI (the European ATV Safety Institute) the FFM, ( Fédération Française de Motocyclisme) and representatives from the French ATV manufacturers. The meeting resulted in the agreement that all present stakeholders will collaborate in implementing a test-project in 2009, before a full scale roll-out in 2010. EASI would provide the content and insure a quality control, FFM would provide its network of educators and trainers as well as training locations, and the manufacturers/distributors would be in charge of financing the project and of promoting it towards end-users via their dealer-networks. The next meeting will be held at the end of November in FFM’s headquarters in Paris mainly to discuss the budget sharing, to choose the region for the demo-project and to fine-tune the functioning of the project.
October 2008
ATVEA to organise a high-level meeting to implement a users-education programme in France
On the 22nd of October, ATVEA will gather the key stakeholders in France in order to implement a broad ATV-users-education program. ATVEA will facilitate this meeting between representatives of the main manufacturers in France, officials of the Fédération Française de Motocyclisme and representatives from the European ATV Safety Institute. The goal of this meeting is to find an agreement on the cooperation aiming at implementing a user-education programme in France. The basic idea is that every buyer of ATV will be offered the possibility to attend a half-day training about the proper handling and responsible use of ATV.
One of ATVEA main objectives is to promote the safe and responsible use of ATVs. In this respect, users' education is crucial. ATVEA already managed to implement such a programme in the UK, in collaboration with the European ATV Safety Institute. ATVEA wants now to use this successful experience to implement a similar programme in France.
August 2008
ATVEA invited by the European Commission for a stakeholder consultation on safety.
In the framework of the recast of the European Directive 2002/24 related to motorcycles type-approuval, the European Commission is assessing the possible new measures for the safety of category L vehicles. This category regroups motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles such as micro-cars and ATVs. ATVEA has been selected by the European Commission to bring its expertise regarding ATVs safety.
TRL (Transport Research Laboratory, an independent research & consultancy body in the field of transport) is organising the consultation on the behalf of the European Commission. The meeting will be held on the 8th of September at the European Commission in Brussels.
June 2008
ATVEA formally accepted as the ATV industry representative for the standardisation works within the CEN TC 354.
On Friday 27th of June, ATVEA was formally granted the “liaison status” with the CEN TC 354. This decision was adopted unanimously by the members of the CEN TC 354.
January 2008
New standardisation initiative and setting up of CEN TC 354 and Working Group II on ATVs
In 1995 the Machinery Safety directive entered into force of and from the outset the general understanding was that Utility ATVs were falling within the scope of the directive (CE mark), but that Leisure machines were not. (Transport of persons). In March 2007 in a meeting of the Machinery Directive Working Group it was concluded that also leisure machines fall within the scope of the directive and that it would be useful to establish European standards on safety. That led to the setting up of the CEN TC 354 on non type approved vehicles wich includes also ATVs. The first meeting of CEN TC 354 took place in Paris on Friday the 21st of December. ATVEA was amongst the interested parties involved. The first meeting dealt mainly with establishing the title, the scope and the business plan (in other words the working programme) of the new Technical Committee and it was decided that the remit of the Committee covers all the machines that are not intended for use on public road, hence it covers those machines that are not type approved. Moreover, it was decided to initiate work immediately on standardization in the field of "Motorbikes", and mini-motorbikes but a Working Group II on All Terrain Vehicles was set up and the first meeting has been convened for the 12th and 13th of February in Paris. WG II will work along the lines WG I, namely dealing with safety requirements and Mr. Van Assche was nominated as chairman. The Committee is expected to start working on a draft standard from the outset.
June 2007
European Parliament's New Climate Change Committee
The European parliament has launched a new temporary committee on climate change, a clear signal of the importance of this issue for all areas of future policy. The committee has identified seven themes of activity for the coming year. Its draft work programme was prsented by Karl-Heinz Florenz MEP at the beginning of the month at the committee's first public meeting. The proposed areas of activity stress the cross-sectoral nature of climate change issues and include international security, global transport emissions, and land use. The committee vice chair, Vittorio Prodi MEP, emphasised the importance of cooperating with other parliamentary committees and suggested the European Commission should create its own equivalent working group for liaison. The committee is expected to hold a series of public hearings with civil society representatives.
May 2007
ATVEA welcomes AEA at Latest Member
ATVEA proudly welcomes AEA (The Agricultural Engineers' Association) as the first Associated Member. Since 1989 the Association has represented the interests of British outdoor power and machinery manufacturers and suppliers. The Association provides a wide range of services in the commercial, export, legal, shows, statistics and technical areas. ATVEA looks forward to a fruitful relationship in the coming years.
April 2007
Commission Launches Two New Sustainable Transport Projects
The European Commission has launched two new sustainable transport research projects which will contribute to EU efforts to improve air quality across Europe. The projects co-ordinated by the Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) were launched in Milan this month at a conference on transport and the environment. The Commisison is concerned by the rising levels of air pollution which are harmful to human health and the environment. Poor air quality is believed to cut an average of 9 months off the average European's life expectancy. The projects will assess the socio-economic and environmental benefits of different modes of transport and at the potential of new transport technologies.
More information available at: http://transportenv07.jrc.it/
March 2007
Changes to the ATVEA Council and Marketing Committee
ATVEA welcomes its latest Council member, Martin Sanders who will represent Honda. Martin takes over the role from Silvio Manicardi who retired earlier this year. Other changes include Marketing Committee Chair, Toni Stockelmeier stepping down from the Committee. He will be replaced by the Chair of the Education Committee, Wijnand Schagen. ATVEA would like to thank both Silvio and Toni for all their hard work over the years. This is an important year for the Marketing Committee with a number of key develop,ments on the horizon, so all the best to Wijnand in his new role.
February 2007
New Off Road Laws on the Way
The Association of British Drivers is currently voicing its criticism of the off-road registration bill which is making its way thorugh the British Parliament. A new bill put forward by Graham Stringer MP is intended to tackle un-registered, mini motorcycles used without MOT, road tax, insurance or licence. However, the bill has been misinterpreted and is now so wide ranging that every kind of motorcycle will have to comply with the Road Traffic Act (RTA). The bill has finished its second reading and is now entering the committee stage. The Association of British Drivers believes that there are already ample laws covering the illegal use of any kind of vehicle but rather the problem is one of enforcement.
November 2006
FEBIAC Petition
The Belgian automobile federation, FEBIAC, has released a web petition (www.off-road-enquete.be) to support the motorised leisure industry in Belgium. This initiative has been launched further to a new regional regulation, the circulaire Lutgen (CDH). More information on the campaign can be found at: www.off-road-enquete.be
October 2006
Launch of ATVEA Rider Instruction DVD at Intermot Exhibition
Today 10 October, at the Intermot Exhibition ATVEA launched their Rider Instruction DVD. ATVEA President Herry Kleyn van Willigen unveiled the new DVD to press and industry representatives during a breakfast briefing. The 20 minute DVD explains how an ATV should be used by its rider and highlights ATVEA’s commitment to promote the correct and responsible use of ATVs in Europe. The content and script was developed in conjunction with EASI, the European ATV Safety Institute (UK). Copies are available in 23 European languages and can be found from one of the dealers networks from the end of the year.
September 2006
Intermot Exhibition
From 11 to 15 October 2006 the Intermot Exhibition was in Koln, Germany. This year will again see the major ATV manufacturers displaying their vehicles and merchandise. We look forward to seeing you there!
French Demonstrations
Users’ federations of ATVs, motorbikes and 4x4s have joined forces in the discussions on access to terrain in France. A series of demonstrations in 20 French cities will be organised for Saturdays in October. The action comes in response to the demonstrations held in April of this year by an alliance of green NGOs called CODEVER (Collectif de Défense des Loisirs Verts).
July 2006
ATVEA Meeting with European Commission
In June 2006, an ATVEA delegation met with representatives from the automotive unit of the European Commission’s DG Enterprise. The meeting was a follow-up to the Motor Cycle Working Group Meeting which took place mid 2005. Different options to adapt the quadricycle category under the Directive 2002/24 were debated. Next step will be for ATVEA to prepare a more formal proposal due to be debated in early 2007.
June 2006
French Plans for ATV Sector
May discussions in the French Assemblée Nationale have highlighted government plans to deal with the strong growth in the ATV market and the resulting need for a proper framework and safety measures. The plans include: the training of users in the proper use of ATVs; the creation of a reference user organisation for ATV riders; and the identification of private event organisers. In addition the French Motorcycle Federation is also considering setting-up a professional qualification certificate to regulate and frame the practice of ATV riding in France.
April 2006
Meeting with European Commission
At the end of March 2006, ATVEA met with DG Enterprise of the European Commission, along with AFQUAD (Association Européenne des Fabricants et Importateurs de Quadricycles) and ACEM (Association des Constructeurs Européens de Motocycles). The meeting was convened in order to present the Commission with ATVEA and AFQUAD’s initial work on vehicle differentiation. The proposals were positively welcomed by the Commission.
February 2006
FEBIAC ATV Leaflet
The Belgian automobile federation, FEBIAC, has released an information leaflet on ATVs. The leaflet which is in both French and Dutch provides useful information on ATVs, including tips for riders.
CobraManagedFiles/0dkbvviybb4v74k9.pdf
24 January 2006
Today, ATVEA welcomes KTM as a Member of ATVEA. KTM is a major player in the European motorcycle market. In addition KTM have been nominated as the new Marketing Committee Chair. Both KTM and ATVEA are extremely pleased to continue ATVEA's promotion of the safe and responsible use of ATVs in Europe.
23 February 2005
Today, ATVEA welcomes KYMCO as a Member of ATVEA. KYMCO is a major player in the European ATV market, and both KYMCO and ATVEA are extremely pleased to begin working together to achieve our joint aims to promote the safe and responsible use of ATVs in Europe.
09 August 2005
Intermot Fair to take place in Munich from the 15-19 September 2004. Many of the major ATV manufacturers will be present at the Intermot fair so come and meet us there!
28 May 2004
ATVEA Launch documentation available:
ATVEA Launch Event Press ReleaseATVEA Brochure 2004Launch PresentationMartin Eifel's (DG Enterprise) Presentation on the Machinery DirectiveHerald Ruyters' (DG Energy and Transport) Presentation on Drivers Licences and Training
27 May 2004
ATVEA was officially launched in Brussels today at the Renaissance Hotel. The launch presented the association to the public, EU Officials and other ATV stakeholders with the presentation of a new brochure and the launch of the ATVEA website. For further information contact the ATVEA Secretariat.