1.Upon the applicant's request, the authorising entity and the concerned NSAs for the area of use shall handle pre-engagement applications to set the pre-engagement baseline before an application for a vehicle type authorisation and/or vehicle authorisation for placing on the market is submitted. The pre-engagement application shall be formally submitted by the applicant through the one-stop shop and be accompanied by a file containing at least the required information specified in Article 23.
2.The time frame from the issuing of the opinion referred to in Article 24(2) to the applicant's submission of the application for vehicle type authorisation and/or vehicle authorisation for placing on the market shall not exceed 84 months.
3.The selection of authorising entity made by the applicant for the pre-engagement shall be binding until, either:
(a)the concerned application for vehicle type authorisation and/or vehicle authorisation for placing in the market has been submitted by the applicant;
(b)the time frame from the issuing of the opinion referred to in Article 24(2) to the applicant's submission of the application for vehicle type authorisation and/or vehicle authorisation for placing on the market as specified in paragraph 2 has expired; or
(c)the applicant has requested to end the pre-engagement.
4.When during the pre-engagement, the applicant wishes to change the authorising entity it shall request the termination of the existing pre-engagement. The applicant may then send a new pre-engagement application to a new authorising entity.
5.The applicant may introduce an application for authorisation through the one-stop shop at any time during the pre-engagement process. In this case, the pre-engagement phase is terminated.
6.In case of pre-engagement, the points set out in Article 41 related to the identification and the categorisation of issues shall be used, in view of tracking issues raised with the applicant by the authorising entity and, when applicable, the concerned NSAs for the area of use.