(A) As used in this section, "research and development business" means a person who manufacturers tires in this State for use as original equipment on new and unused motor vehicles and who conducts research and development activities on tires in conjunction with the person's manufacturing activities in South Carolina.
(B) Upon application and payment of the required fee, the Department of Motor Vehicles may issue research and development license plates to a research and development business. The license plates must be used exclusively on motor vehicles, including motorcycles, provided by a motor vehicle manufacturer to the research and development business for the purpose of testing and evaluating the performance of the research and development business' tires on the motor vehicle.
(C) Application for research and development license plates must be made by the research and development business on a form prescribed by the department and submitted with proof of the applicant's status as a bona fide research and development business. The cost of each research and development license plate issued is two hundred dollars, of which one hundred sixty dollars must be remitted by the department to the county in which the testing facility of the business is located. Each plate is valid for two years. A maximum of thirty research and development license plates may be issued for the two-year period.
(D) Vehicles with research and development plates may be operated on the state's streets and highways only for the purpose of testing and evaluating the performance of the research and development business' tires on the motor vehicle.