The threshold is seating capacity: a vehicle designed to transport ten or more persons including the driver falls under 8702, while vehicles designed for fewer than ten persons are classified under the motor-cars heading. Seating configuration as designed—not as temporarily configured—governs the classification.

A diesel-electric hybrid bus, which uses a diesel engine combined with an electric motor but relies on the diesel engine as the primary power source, falls under 870220. A battery-electric bus powered solely by a rechargeable battery pack with no internal combustion engine falls under 870240. The propulsion architecture must be clearly documented in technical specifications at entry.