VEHICLE HOMOLOGATION : JAPAN

Vehicle certification systems in Japan

There are 3 vehicle type approval systems in Japan as follows:

1. Type Designation System (TDS)

2. Preferential Handling Procedure (PHP)

3. Parallel Import (PI)

Type Designation System (TDS)

The TDS is suitable to high-volume production cars.


1.All the Japanese OEMs use TDS.

2.Major car importers also use TDS.

3.Plant audit is periodically conducted by Japanese Type approval authorities.

4.Many UNECE certificates are accepted by J-TAA.

Preferential Handling Procedure for Imported Motor Vehicles (PHP)

The PHP is suitable to middle-volume production cars and motorcycles (>250cc). 

1.In case of ICE or Hybrid, TRIAS-WLTC test report is required to submit at a rate of 1/50 or 1/100. 

2.Plant audit is not required. 

3.Many UNECE certificates are accepted by J-TAA. 

Parallel Import (PI)  (also known as 1 of 10)

The PI is suitable to small volume cars and motorcycles (>250cc).

1.In case of ICE or Hybrid, TRIAS-WLTC test is required to be performed at a J-TAA designated lab in JAPAN for each vehicle. However, the test result may be used for in maximum 9 others vehicles if the specification of those vehicles is exactly the same as that of the first vehicle.

2.PI is the approval for the individual vehicle.

3.The TAA for PI is the local Land Transport Office.

To which authority should the application be submitted ?

TDS and PHP: 

•Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism MLIT 

•National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory NTSEL 

PI: 

•Local Land Transport Office 

Technical Requirements

Motor vehicles have to fulfill the Japanese Safety Regulations as shown in the next list: (Source: MLIT)

UNECE regulations Japan adopted:

Japanese authorities adopted a certain number of the UNECE regulations. See the table attached. (Source: MLIT)

Those UNECE approvals can be effective in the Japanese certification.

If you have questions, feel free contact us at [email protected].