compliance car

compliance car (plural compliance cars)

1. (US, automotive) A motor vehicle made in a manner to comply with government specification, in quantities to comply to government regulations on quota minimums, to sell to the public, frequently in limited areas, at a loss, without promotion, and under active dissuasion among dealers.
   • 2012 June, “2013 Honda Fit EV Review”, in InsideEVs‎, archived from the original on 30 July 2019:

     The Honda for the most part is a compliance car, as shown by the fact the Japanese automaker only intend to build 1,100 of them.

   • 2013 January, Jim Motavalli, “The Greenest and Meanest Cars in 2013”, in Wheels, The New York Times:

     Critics have called low-volume battery electrics “compliance cars,” built in relatively low numbers mainly to satisfy California’s zero-emission mandates.

• compliance vehicle

• compliance company