The Recreational Vehicle (RV) manufacturing industry is about to conclude a huge transformation program with full compliance to the Road Vehicle Standards Act required from 1 July 2023.
To date, all RV manufacturers have been responsible for self-certification. This has led to significant non-compliance (sometimes “dangerous non-compliance”) of both local and imported RVs. While the industry’s RVMAP accreditation program has done a brilliant job of lifting compliance, through the education and auditing of its members, RVMAP membership hasn’t been mandatory to manufacture or trade in the RV space.
TRACK has been a long-time advocate for RVMAP membership and engagement. TRACK was among the first manufacturers to be fully-certified for the new RVSA, and has been entering vehicles on the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) for most of the past year. RVSA will forever improve the safety and compliance of all RVs sold; further, any vehicles not entered on the RAV will not be eligible for first registration in any Australian state from 1 July 2023.
The introduction of the RVSA to the RV industry will bring several benefits to customers:
Firstly, RVSA collates all Australian Design Rules (ADR) and quality systems information to generate an individual recreational vehicle (RV) ‘Type’ in the Federal vehicle management and registration system (known as ROVER). (Type-based approval refers to the process where the particular ‘Type’ of RV is tested, inspected and certified. This includes compliance to ADRs & Australian Standards, which set the minimum standards for construction, electrical systems, gas installations, braking systems and structural integrity, along with procurement certification and chain of responsibility, on all safety-critical items.)
Secondly, RVSA promotes transparency and accountability within the industry. ROVER will make it easier for customers to verify the safety and compliance status of a vehicle before purchasing.
Thirdly, the RVSA strengthens the recall process for defective or unsafe vehicles. It establishes clear guidelines for manufacturers to identify and promptly address safety issues.
In summary, TRACK is RVSA-ready and, with the Tvan Lightning’s recent award for the ‘Best Build Quality’ at Camper Trailer of the Year, our customers can be confident that TRACK puts their safety first.
