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According to the Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), vehicles are classified into several categories, of which category M is defined as a motor vehicle with at least four wheels used for the carriage of passengers. category M is further subdivided into three subcategories Category M vehicles are further subdivided into three sub-categories, namely M1, M2 and M3, as follows:

1. Category M1 vehicles

• Definition: Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers and having a seating capacity of not more than eight persons in addition to the driver's seat.

• Regulations: Must comply with safety, emission and crash test standards for light passenger vehicles.

• Typical Vehicles: Sedans, SUVs, MPVs, etc.

• Applicable Scenarios:

   Family or personal daily travelling.

   Urban commuting and short-distance travelling.

   Suitable for general road driving, focusing on comfort and fuel economy.

2. M2 category vehicles

• Definition: vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, with more than 8 seats in addition to the driver's seat, and with a maximum gross mass not exceeding 5 tonnes.

• Regulations: Stricter safety requirements, including reinforced structures and accessibility.

• Typical vehicle types: small passenger cars, school buses, tourist buses, etc.

• Applicable Scenarios:

   Urban public transport.

   Shuttle services for schools or enterprises.

   Short distance group travelling.

3. M3 Category Vehicles

• DEFINITION: Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, with more than 8 seats in addition to the driver's seat, and with a maximum gross mass of more than 5 tonnes.

• Regulations: Must comply with heavy vehicle safety standards (e.g. rollover protection, emergency exits).

• Typical vehicle types: large buses, coaches, double-decker buses, etc.

• Applicable Scenarios:

   Long-distance passenger transport and intercity transport.

   Tourist and sightseeing buses.

   High-capacity urban public transport.

4. Common features of Class M vehicles

• Passenger use: all M category vehicles are used for carrying passengers and not for goods transport.

• Safety standards: They must meet the safety regulations set by UNECE, including seat strength, seat belts, fire performance, etc.

• Environmental requirements: They have to meet the emission standards, especially for M2 and M3 vehicles, which are mostly used in public transport and have higher environmental requirements.

5. Summary of Applicable Scenarios

• M1: suitable for personal or family use, focusing on comfort and economy.

• M2: Suitable for small and medium-sized group transport, such as school buses or city buses.

• M3: Suitable for large-scale passenger transport, such as long-distance passenger transport or high-capacity city buses.

Vehicles in category M are UNECE classified as being exclusively for the carriage of passengers and cover a wide range of types, from personal use vehicles to large public transport vehicles. By subdividing the M1, M2 and M3 categories, it is possible to better meet the needs of different scenarios for carrying passengers, while ensuring that safety and environmental standards are enforced.