8703.31.01.00 - Of a cylinder capacity not exceeding 1,500 cc

This HTS category encompasses motor cars and other vehicles primarily designed for transporting persons, specifically those powered by a compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel) with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 1,500 cubic centimeters (cc). This includes passenger cars, station wagons, and racing cars that meet these engine specifications. The key defining characteristic for classification under this heading is the engine type and its displacement.

Distinguishing this category from its siblings, 8703.32 and 8703.33, relies solely on the engine's cylinder capacity. While all vehicles in heading 8703.3 are diesel or semi-diesel powered, this specific subheading applies only when the engine's capacity is 1,500 cc or less. Vehicles with larger diesel engines, falling into the 1,501 cc to 2,500 cc range, would be classified under 8703.32, and those exceeding 2,500 cc would fall under 8703.33.

As this node is a leaf node in the HTS database, there are no further subdivisions under this specific code. Classification under 8703.31.01.00 is therefore final for passenger vehicles with diesel engines displacing 1,500 cc or less. Practical examples include many compact diesel cars and smaller diesel-powered SUVs designed for personal transport.