OPEI Announces First-Ever Standard for Utility Vehicles

Utility vehicles can be used for both work and play. It’s a multipurpose piece of equipment, yet these multipurpose type off-road vehicles (that straddle the markets between commercial and recreational) don’t really have many standards. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) announced in May that it had issued the first-ever ANSI standard for what it called Multipurpose Off-Highway Utility Vehicles (MOHUVs), encompassing off-highway vehicles that operate between 25 to 50 mph and are utilized for multipurpose applications.

“Up until now, there was no standard for MOHUVs. Developing this standard was really a priority for OPEI as this type of vehicle enjoys growing popularity,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of OPEI. “Now, MOHUV manufacturers have clear guidance and minimum requirements on voluntary, consensus driven standards as approved by ANSI.”

Before the newly announced MOHUV standard, only work-focused utility vehicles (limited to 25 mph or lower) and recreation-focused off-highway vehicles (operating above 30 mph) had published standards. The new OPEI standard fills the gap by defining standards for utility vehicles that are capable of a broad spectrum of uses.

OPEI’s MOHUV committee developed the standard after a rigorous American National Standards Institute (ANSI) process which included additional input and cross-functional reviews by a consensus group comprising vehicle users, industry representatives and government/independent agencies. To learn more, visit www.opei.org.