Why does Swiss vehicle classification follow EU law?

Art. 12 para. 1 VTS states: “Transport motor vehicles under Regulation (EU) 2018/858 are divided into classes M and N.” Switzerland thereby adopts the EU system directly into national law — class M for the carriage of persons, class N for the carriage of goods.

• Reg. (EU) 2018/858: passenger cars and commercial vehicles — classes M, N (and trailers O).
• Reg. (EU) 167/2013: agricultural and forestry tractors — classes T (wheels) and C (tracks).
• Reg. (EU) 168/2013: two-, three- and four-wheeled light vehicles — classes L1e–L7e.

Because Switzerland uses the same classes and technical definitions, EU type approvals are recognised here and the class designations (M1, N1, L3e, T1 …) are directly applicable.