What is the purpose of emissions certification for new vehicles?

The purpose of emissions certification for new vehicles is to confirm compliance with emissions standards before they are sold. This process is crucial as it ensures that vehicles meet specific environmental regulations designed to limit the amount of harmful pollutants they can emit. By undergoing emissions testing and certification, manufacturers must demonstrate that their vehicles adhere to the established guidelines set by regulatory bodies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States.

This certification plays a vital role in protecting air quality and public health by ensuring that new vehicles do not exceed permissible levels of emissions. It also promotes technological advancements in the automotive industry as manufacturers strive to innovate and produce more environmentally friendly vehicles.

In contrast, ensuring all vehicles are equal in performance is not the focus of emissions certification, nor is establishing market prices a consideration. Reducing manufacturing costs may be an objective for companies, but it is not relevant to the emissions certification process, which is primarily concerned with environmental compliance.