REPORT (Overview)

1. Basic Thinking in Deliberations

In studying the proper approach to motor vehicle inspection and check maintenance, opportunities were created to hear opinions from a broad range of related fields, which, combined with consideration for the actual status of motor vehicle inspection and maintenance derived from various studies conducted both in Japan and abroad, technological and specialized studies were conducted from the following perspectives:

(1) Provide appropriate responses to the advances in automotive technology, the diversification of the means in which motor vehicles are used, and other changing situations.

(2) Proceed from the premise that there are no obstructions in the effort to maintain safety and prevent pollution, with consideration taken to also lead to a decrease in the burden on the public.

(3) Accompanying the maturation in Japanese motorization, proceed in accordance with the principle of self-discipline to promote the advance of the essential approach of autonomous maintenance control on the part of motor vehicle users.

2.DELIBERATION RESULTS

In this report, as the result of careful studies based on the aforementioned thinking, the following proposal is presented with regard to the proper means of future motor vehicle inspections and check maintenance which address the demands of the age.

1 Motor Vehicle Inspection and Check Maintenance Systems

In Japan, a country characterized by extremely high-density motorization, inspection systems and check maintenance systems combine to play a vital role in maintaining automotive safety and preventing pollution, rendering it necessary to maintain the basics of that system.

2 Motor Vehicle Check Maintenance

(1) Regular Check Maintenance

i) Regular Check Items

*It is possible to either reduce or extend the timing of certain regular check maintenance items. Furthermore, it is judged appropriate to eliminate the pre-operation check for current private-use passenger cars, to be replaced with normal checks conducted in a time framework matched to the use status of the automobile involved.

Revision of Regular Check Items for Private-Use Passenger Cars, etc.

	Current No. of Items	After Revision
Six-month check	16	Not mandatory
12-month check	60	Approx. 30
24-month check	102	Approx. 60

* Because the check items determined by the government are held to the minimum necessary on the premise of standard use, there is a need for users to act on their own responsibility to autonomously carry out check maintenance on a time framework which responds to specific use conditions.

ii)Additional Driving Distance for Regular Check Maintenance Timing

* With regard to the intervals for performing regular check maintenance, due to the need for smooth administration of the implementation timing, it is judged appropriate to set this timing on the basis of terms.

* With regard to private-use passenger cars and other vehicles for which driving distance is low, setting the check timing on the basis of terms alone runs the risk of involving an excessive number of items.
Accordingly, it would be appropriate to introduce a method in which the check items are limited to brake pad wear and other items prone to suffer high degrees of deterioration in proportion to driving distance, with the driving distance from the previous check added and set as the limit until the time of the next check, thereby effectively extending the timing of the check.

(2) Regular Replacement Parts

* Of regular replacement parts, with regard to the large majority of rubber parts on private-use passenger cars and other vehicles, it is possible for motor vehicle manufacturers to exclude these parts from the list of parts targeted for regular replacement, with replacement carried out in accordance with the results of the check.

* With regard to certain oil fluids, it is possible for the motor vehicle manufacturers to extend the replacement date.

(3) Regular Check Maintenance Implementation Timing (Around Time of Inspection)

* While motor vehicle maintenance control is essentially a practice which should be performance on an autonomous basis under the responsibility of the automobile user, such controls are not necessarily carried out. Based on this reality, the government currently carries out guidance for the performance of pre-inspection regular check maintenance for the purpose of encouraging reliable performance of check maintenance and contributing to the convenience of motor vehicle users. On the other hand, there are also aspects of the performance of pre-inspection regular check maintenance which impede improvements in the maintenance control awareness of motor vehicle users, while also existing on some fronts are circumstances linked to the fact that this is maintenance for the purpose of automobile inspection, with the result that maintenance is carried out on a uniform basis and not in response to the age of the vehicle, the specific use conditions or other factors.
As a result, under the existing conditions:

(i) Barriers are created for improvements in the maintenance control awareness of automobile users, creating a situation unfavorable for the maintaining of safety and prevention of pollution from a long-term perspective.

(ii) Despite the efforts of maintenance operators, it is difficult to obtain the understanding and trust of motor vehicle users with regard to maintenance, with this serving to impede the sound development of the maintenance business. In view of these and other factors, as well as the fact that inspection and maintenance are handled separately in foreign countries, with regard to private-use passenger cars and other vehicles it will be possible to have the timing of this implementation selected by motor vehicle manufacturers. This will be based on the premise of more reliable implementation of check maintenance on the part of motor vehicle users from here on, with the regular check maintenance not required to be carried out around the time of the inspection.

(4) Thorough Countermeasures for Proper Motor Vehicle Maintenance Administration

* To ensure that the elimination of the requirement that regular check maintenance be performed around the time of the inspection does not result in any regression in the maintaining of automotive safety and the prevention of pollution, and that motor vehicle users are aware of the need for check maintenance, there is a need for even greater efforts to encourage the autonomous implementation of check maintenance. Toward this end, the need exists for the government, maintenance operators, automakers, automobile sales dealers and other parties to achieve thorough understanding of the differences in the objectives and the roles of inspections and check maintenance in working to enhance motor vehicle user awareness of maintenance administration, while devising measures to promote regular check maintenance.

* In particular, the promotion of autonomous maintenance administration will require clarification of the maintenance administration needs of motor vehicle users through legal or other channels.

3 Rationalization of Maintenance Fees, Contents

(1) In order to achieve proper motor vehicle maintenance administration on the part of motor vehicle users, it will be indispensable to rationalize the fees and the content of the maintenance, and earn the understanding and trust of motor vehicle users with regard to this maintenance.

(2) To achieve this, it will be necessary for the government and the maintenance operators to work from their respective positions in devising check maintenance record books easy for motor vehicle users to understand, and otherwise work to rationalize the fees and contents of the maintenance.

4 Motor Vehicle Inspections

* The present term of validity for motor vehicle inspection certificates is generally acceptable. However, with regard to the terms of validity for private-use passenger cars which are over 11 years in age or small-size motorcycles or large-size special use vehicles which are over 10 years in age, it is judged possible to extend the term from the existing one year to two years.

* Studies are desirable from here on with regard to improvements in emissions gas inspection methods for vehicles currently in use, inspections following repairs on motor vehicles damaged in traffic accidents, and other areas.

5 Points of Attention in Implementing the Report

1. With regard to the increase in the government inspection work resulting from the elimination of demands that regular check maintenance be performed around the time of the inspection, the existing designated maintenance system consigns the performance of reliable maintenance to maintenance operators which satisfy certain conditions, and is a system which functions through this approach to maintain inspection fairness and neutrality, while mobilizing the capacity of the private sector. Because of this, it is appropriate to maintain the concept of this system, while putting it to effective use.
   

2. Maintenance operators fulfill the vital social role of maintaining motor vehicle safety, while preventing pollution. Nevertheless, the maintenance operators are currently burdened with structural problems which include the need to mount responses to the advancing grade of maintenance technology, obtaining adequate human resources and other areas, while almost all of these operators are medium-, small-, or ultra-small size enterprises. In addition, because there will be a need to respond to this latest report, from the perspective of maintaining the supply of proper maintenance there is also a need for the government to devise proper assistance measures for maintenance operators from here on.
   

3. In accordance with this report, in order to revise the contents of the regular check maintenance, eliminate demands that regular check maintenance be performed around the time of the inspection, revise the motor vehicle inspection certification validity term and carry out other steps, preparatory work will be necessary on the part of all parties involved. Accordingly, it is desirable that this work be advanced immediately, with the process shifted to implementation as soon as all preparations are in place.
   In particular, in order to eliminate demands that regular check maintenance be performed around the time of the inspection, there is a need for measures to achieve understanding of the fact that the regular check maintenance cannot be omitted simply because of qualification under the inspection and ensure that motor vehicle users perform maintenance administration in a proper manner, improvement and expansion of the actual inspection system so that there is no decline in motor vehicle user convenience, and other integrated efforts. Toward this end, a period of preparation will be required for all parties involved (including improvements on the legal front). However, guidance will be provided to continue to perform the regular check maintenance prior to the inspection during the period until those preparations are complete, with the need existing to gain the understanding and cooperation of motor vehicles users of this approach to ensure that there is no regression in the maintaining of motor vehicle safety and the prevention of pollution, and that no confusion is created in the execution of the inspection operations which would undermine the convenience of motor vehicle users.
   

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