8702.20.31.00 - Designed for the transport of 16 or more persons, including the driver

This HTS classification, 8702.20.31.00, specifically covers motor vehicles designed to transport a significant number of passengers, defined as 16 or more persons including the driver. The defining characteristic of vehicles within this code is their propulsion system: they must be equipped with both a compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (commonly referred to as a diesel engine) and an electric motor for their primary motive power. This dual-propulsion system indicates a hybrid configuration, aiming for a balance of power and efficiency.

Within the broader category of "Motor vehicles for the transport of ten or more persons, including the driver," this subcategory is distinguished by its hybrid powertrain. While other vehicles in this chapter may utilize solely diesel engines or other forms of propulsion, 8702.20.31.00 is exclusively for those employing both diesel and electric motors. The sibling category, 8702.20.61.00, encompasses "Other" vehicles within the diesel-electric hybrid propulsion family, implying that 8702.20.31.00 likely refers to a specific type or configuration not covered by the broader "Other" designation. However, given that 8702.20.31.00 is a terminal node, there are no further subdivisions to introduce.

Examples of vehicles that would fall under this classification include articulated buses, coaches, or shuttle vehicles specifically engineered with a hybrid diesel-electric powertrain and a seating capacity for 16 or more occupants. The classification hinges on the combined presence of the diesel engine, the electric motor, and the vehicle's designed passenger capacity.