Data format
Article 6
1. The technical information shall be made available by the manufacturer based on the vehicle identification number of the vehicle in an open source and structured data format: (a) to the competent authorities, upon request, as a collection of offline usable machine readable data files, and (b) to the testing centres and to the competent authorities using an online solution. When using an online solution, the technical information, which has to be provided by the manufacturer at the same time as part of the repair and maintenance information on a website, shall be made available in the same data format. Other vehicle technical information shall be made available in the data format that is used for similar information. 2. The manufacturer may deviate from the requirements defined in paragraph 1 in respect of vehicles in receipt of individual, national or small series type approval as referred to in Regulations (EU) No 167/2013 and (EU) No 168/2013, and Directive 2007/46/EC, or if the manufacturer does not have to comply with Regulations (EC) No 715/2007 and (EU) No 167/2013, or (EU) No 168/2013. However, the information shall be provided in an easily accessible and consistent manner that can be processed with reasonable effort. 3. In the case of vehicles in receipt of step-by-step, mixed or multi-stage type-approval as referred to in Regulations (EU) No 167/2013 and (EU) No 168/2013, and Directive 2007/46/EC, the manufacturer responsible for the particular stage of the build shall be responsible for communicating the vehicle technical information relating to a particular system, component or separate technical unit for that stage to the final manufacturer. The final manufacturer shall be responsible for providing the technical information on the finished vehicle to the competent authorities and the testing centres. 4. Paragraph 3 shall not apply to vehicles in receipt of individual, national or small series approvals as referred to in Regulations (EU) No 167/2013 and (EU) No 168/2013, and Directive 2007/46/EC.