Automotive acronyms and abbreviations explained

The following items are commonly used automotive acronyms and abbreviations:^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

• 5MT: 5-speed manual transmission
• A4: 4-speed automatic transmission
• A5: 5-speed automatic transmission
• A6: 6-speed automatic transmission
• ABS: Anti-lock braking system
• AC: Alternating Current
• A/C: Air conditioning
• ADAS: Advanced Driving Autonomous Systems
• ADB: Adaptive Driving Beam
• AdvHEV

Hybrid vehicle

• AGS: Adaptive transmission control
• AHC: Automatic height controller
• AMT: Automated manual transmission
• AFL: Adaptive front light
• AFS: Adaptive front-light system
• ALH: Adaptive LED Headlights
• ATLS: Automated truck loading systems
• Autogas

LPG when used as a vehicle fuel

• AVT: Antenna Amplifier Tuner ^[5]
• AWD: All Wheel Drive
• BSM: Blind spot monitor
• CAB 1493

California Assembly Bill 1493

• CARB

California Air Resources Board

• CCP: Coupled cam phasing
• CH₄: Methane
• CNG: Compressed natural gas

Carbon dioxide

• CTS: Cruising & Traffic Support
• CVVL

Continuous variable valve lift

• CVT: Continuously variable transmission
• DAA: Driver Attention Alert
• DC: Direct current
• DCP: Dual cam phasing
• DCT: Dual clutch transmission
• DeAct

Cylinder deactivation

• dHCCI

Diesel homogeneous charge compression ignition

• DMV: California Department of Motor Vehicles
• DOHC

Dual overhead cam

• DRL: Daytime Running Lights
• DRSS: Distance Recognition Support System
• DSC: Dynamic stability control
• DVVL

Discrete variable valve lift

• DVVLd

Discrete variable valve lift, includes dual cam phasing

• DVVLi

Discrete variable valve lift, includes intake valve cam phasing

• eACC: Improved electric accessories
• EAT: Electronically assisted turbocharging
• EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection
• EGR: Exhaust gas recirculation
• ehCVA

Electrohydraulic camless valve actuation

• emCVA

Electromagnetic camless valve actuation

• EHPS

Electrohydraulic power steering

• EPB: Electronic Parking Brake
• EPS: Electric power steering
• EMFAC

ARB emission factors modeling software (EMFAC2007 v.2.3 November 1, 2006)

• ESC: Electronic stability control
• ESP: Electronic stability program
• EWP: Electric water pump
• EWP: Elevating work platform
• FDC: Fixed displacement compressor
• FWD: Front-wheel drive
• FTP

Federal test procedure

• g/mi

grams per mile

• GDI: Gasoline direct injection
• GDI-S: Stoichiometric gasoline direct injection
• GDI-L: Lean-burn gasoline direct injection
• gHCCI

Gasoline homogeneous charge compression ignition

• GHG: Greenhouse gas
• GT: Gran/Grand turismo
• GVW: Gross vehicle weight
• GVWR

Gross vehicle weight rating

• GWP: Global warming potential
• HAD: Highly Autonomous Driving
• HBC: High Beam Control
• HC: Hydrocarbons
• HEV: Hybrid-electric vehicle
• HFC: Hydrofluorocarbon
• hp

Horsepower

• HSDI

High-speed (diesel) direct injection

• HUD: Automotive head-up display
• ICP: Intake cam phaser
• IGN: Ignition
• ImpAlt

Improved efficiency alternator

• ISG: Integrated starter-generator system
• ISG-SS: Integrated starter-generator system with start-stop operation
• L4

In-line four-cylinder

• LDT: Light-duty truck
• LDT1: a light-duty truck with a loaded vehicle weight of up to 3750 pounds.
• LDT2: an LEV II light-duty truck with a loaded vehicle weight of 3751 pounds to a gross vehicle weight of 8500 pounds
• LED: Light Emitting Diode
• LEV: Low-emission vehicle
• LPG: Liquified petroleum gas
• LVW: Loaded vehicle weight
• MAC: Mobile air conditioning
• MDPV

Medium-duty passenger vehicle

• MDV: Medium-duty vehicle
• mg/mi

Milligrams per mile

• ModHEV

Moderate hybrid

• MT: Manual Transmission
• NMOG

Non-methane organic gas

• N₂O

Nitrous oxide

• NOx

Oxides of nitrogen

• PB: Power brakes
• PC: passenger car
• RPM: Revolutions Per Minute
• PS: Power steering
• R-134a

Refrigerant 134a, tetrafluoroethane (C₂H₂F₄)

• R-152a

Refrigerant 152a, difluoroethane (C₂H₄F₂)

• RCTA: Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• RPE: Retail price equivalent
• RWD: Rear Wheel Drive
• SULEV

Super ultra low emission vehicle

• SUV

Sport utility vehicle

• TBI: Throttle body injection
• TCS: Traction control system
• TRR: Tire rolling resistance
• TSR: Traffic Sign Recognition
• Turbo

Turbocharging

• ULEV

Ultra low emission vehicle

• V6

Vee-formation six-cylinder

• V8

V-formation eight-cylinder

• VDC: Variable displacement compressor
• VVT: Variable Valve Timing
• ZEV: Zero-emission vehicle
• 4WD

Four-wheel-drive

• 42V ISG

42-volt integrated starter-generator system

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1,421 Automotive acronyms and abbreviations. Allacronyms.com. 2016-09-17.
2. Web site: Dave Haughey's Automotive Webspace - Automotive Abbreviations, Acronyms and Initialisms . 2007-10-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071107074626/http://www.davehaughey.ca/j1930.htm . 2007-11-07 .
3. Web site: ISOR: 2004-06-14 Staff Proposal Regarding the Maximum Feasible and Cost-Effective Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Motor Vehicles . Arb.ca.gov . 2016-09-17.
4. Web site: Car Acronyms: What do they mean?. Motor1.com. 2017-03-30.
5. Web site: Automotive Acronyms and Abbreviations . XVEA.com . 29 January 2025.