Automotive acronyms and abbreviations

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
• CO₂: 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

References

1. "1,421 Automotive acronyms and abbreviations". Allacronyms.com. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
2. "Dave Haughey's Automotive Webspace - Automotive Abbreviations, Acronyms and Initialisms". Archived from the original on 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
3. "ISOR: 2004-06-14 Staff Proposal Regarding the Maximum Feasible and Cost-Effective Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Motor Vehicles" (PDF). Arb.ca.gov. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
4. "Car Acronyms: What do they mean?". Motor1.com. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
5. "Automotive Acronyms and Abbreviations". XVEA.com. Retrieved 29 January 2025.