NACE 29.1 – Manufacture of Motor Vehicles | Public Tenders

NACE 29.1: Cars, trucks and motor vehicle engines in public tenders. Fleet procurement for public authorities, police and the Bundeswehr – CPV codes and procurement procedures.

Definition: NACE 29.1 covers the manufacture of motor vehicles (passenger cars, lorries, tractor units) and their engines. The public sector is one of the most significant buyers in this segment — fleet procurement for authorities, police and armed forces generates a substantial tendering volume.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: April 2026

What does NACE 29.1 cover?

NACE 29.1 (Manufacture of motor vehicles) classifies car manufacturers and engine producers — suppliers for one of the largest and most strategically important procurement categories in the European public sector.

Group 29.1 is broken down into the following classes:

Class	Title	Typical Products
29.10	Manufacture of motor vehicles	Passenger cars, trucks, tractor units, vehicle engines, chassis

Public contracting authorities, alongside all federal ministries and state authorities, are in particular the federal and state police forces, the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw), municipal authorities, fire services, emergency services, customs, domestic intelligence services and the federal police.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 29.1

The public sector in Germany and Austria operates hundreds of thousands of service vehicles — fleet tenders for authority vehicles are among the highest-volume supply contracts in the public sector.

Typical Contract Types

Passenger car fleet procurement: Standard vehicles for federal authorities, ministries and state administrations, often via central purchasing bodies (e.g. BeschA)
Police vehicles: Patrol cars, command vehicles, civilian surveillance — often as framework agreements with defined call-off quantities
Military vehicles: Light transport vehicles, Bundeswehr trucks (civilian types), off-road vehicles
Trucks and commercial vehicles: Heavy trucks for Bundeswehr logistics, municipal vehicles as carrier vehicles
Electric vehicles: Public buyers are drivers of the electromobility transition — EVs and PHEVs are preferentially tendered
Fire service service vehicles: Chassis for fire service bodies (interface with NACE 29.2)

Thresholds and Procedure Types

Vehicle procurement consists of supply contracts. EU threshold for central federal authorities: EUR 143,000, for other contracting authorities: EUR 221,000 (as of 2024/2025). Fleet procurement is regularly concluded as a framework agreement (§ 21 VgV) with terms of up to 4 years. Directive 2009/33/EC (Clean Vehicles Directive) obliges contracting authorities to comply with minimum quotas for clean vehicles.

Relevant CPV Codes for NACE 29.1

CPV Code	Title	Scope
34100000	Motor vehicles	Top-level vehicle category
34110000	Passenger cars	Authority cars, official limousines
34130000	Motor vehicles for the transport of goods	Trucks, vans, flatbed vehicles
34114000	Specialist vehicles	Police vehicles, civilian service vehicles
34144000	Motor vehicles for special purposes	Bundeswehr vehicles (civilian class)
34320000	Mechanical spare parts except engines and engine parts	Replacement engines, engine components

Current tenders can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on the BMI Procurement Office platform.

Who is NACE 29.1 relevant for in public procurement?

Public Contracting Authorities

The Procurement Office of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BeschA) is in Germany the central purchasing body for federal authority vehicles. In Austria, the Federal Procurement Agency (BBG) portal coordinates motor vehicle framework agreements. The Federal Police and the state police forces regularly tender patrol cars independently. The BAAINBw procures trucks and commercial vehicles for the Bundeswehr.

Companies and Bidders

Car manufacturers and their sales organisations must demonstrate in public tendering:

Compliance with technical specifications: Precise compliance with all requirements (engine, safety equipment, colour scheme)
Approval and type approval: EU type approval (EU Regulation 2018/858), national special approvals where applicable
Supply and service capability: Demonstrably secured service network operation, spare parts availability
Clean Vehicles Directive: Evidence of emission class and zero-emission capability where applicable
Reference framework agreements: Evidence of similar framework agreements with authorities

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 29.1 and Public Tenders

Must contracting authorities prefer electric vehicles?
The Clean Vehicles Directive (2009/33/EC, as amended by 2019/1161/EU) prescribes minimum quotas for clean vehicles. From 2026 onwards, e.g. for passenger car procurement, at least 38.5% of vehicles must be low- or zero-emission (varying by country).

Can car dealers participate directly in tenders?
Yes — authorised dealers can act as independent bidders provided they can demonstrate supply and service capability from their own capacity. Manufacturer warranties are linked to dealer evidence.

How long are typical framework agreements for authority vehicles?
Framework agreements are limited under § 21 VgV to a maximum of 4 years. Police vehicle framework agreements are often structured with options for extension.

NACE 29.1 in context: Section C and Division 29

NACE C – Manufacturing: Parent section
NACE 29.2 – Manufacture of bodies, coachwork and trailers: Special-purpose bodies for fire service, police, emergency services
NACE 29.3 – Manufacture of motor vehicle parts and accessories: Spare parts, tyres, vehicle electronics
NACE 30.4 – Manufacture of military fighting vehicles: Armoured vehicles, defence procurement

Last updated: April 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.