Calls made to close SUV importation legal loophole

The loophole, known as Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA), allows for the importation of a vehicle that is different from the standard.

Calls have been made to close a legal loophole that has allowed the import of oversized SUVs and pickups from the US despite not being compliant with EU safety standards.

The loophole, known as Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA), allows for the importation of a vehicle that is different from the standard. Often vehicles imported under IVA would be used for heavy goods, emergency services, or have been adapted for disabled drivers.

However, the European Transport Safety Council said IVA is not being used as law-makers intended. Rather, it is being used as a back-door import channel to avoid the air quality, climate and safety requirements that apply under EU-type approval.

Last year, 5,000 Dodge RAMs - just one example of an oversized pickup - were brought into Europe, up 20% compared to 2022, according to newly-released data from the European Environment Agency.

A small number of the oversized vehicles have been imported into Ireland in recent years but the exact figures are not available.

The European Commission is being asked to close the IVA loophole as a matter of urgency given the upward trend of the importation of the vehicles.

"Imported pick-up trucks are certainly the most lethal vehicles when it comes to climate breakdown and fatal collisions, and the application of real-world on-road testing may reveal these vehicles to be the most lethal when it comes to air pollution," stated a letter from consumer, safety and environmental groups to the commission.

Key safety features

IVA imports are not required to deploy key safety measures which became mandatory from July 7 for all other newly-registered light-duty vehicles including automated emergency braking, intelligent speed assistance, reversing detection and emergency stop signal among others.

Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, a member of the EU Transport committee, said the trucks do not fit on Irish rural roads and pose a danger to other drivers at a time when Ireland is struggling with high road deaths.

One safety issue relates to the height of the bonnets of the oversized trucks which often stand 1.3m above ground level and can obscure the driver's view of small children.

"Think of a child up to the age of about 10 or an older person who perhaps is not as tall as they once were, they are completely vulnerable," said Ms Ní Mhurchú.

A study was carried out in the US by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety last November and it found that vehicles with bonnets higher than 1.02m are 44-45% more likely to kill adult pedestrians in crashes, she explained.

The trucks being imported under IVA contribute to climate breakdown three to nine times more than the average new car, according to stats from the European Environmental Agency.

If a Dodge RAM did not use IVA, there would be financial consequences for its emissions and by using the loophole, it is allowing a "mass market vehicle" to avoid EU climate law.

The European Transport Safety Council also said that IVA may also help buyers of the high-emitting vehicles to avoid paying vehicle tax within their member states.

"Due to this loophole, we understand owners of IVA vehicles may avoid CO2-based taxes completely," it said.