ACEA

Commercial vehicle manufacturers support harmonisation of air pollution control standards

Brussels, 21/12/2007 - The European commercial vehicle manufacturers encourage the EU and other worldwide policy makers to agree a complete air pollution control package that will result in the first truly global standard for trucks. The Commission has today adopted its proposal for Euro VI emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles that will now be sent to the European Parliament and the Council for agreement. A second proposal of implementing technical measures will likely be proposed by the Commission later next year. Both proposals will be needed to enact the complete Euro VI package of measures.

“The Commission has adopted the most stringent set of emission limits for Euro VI and they will certainly be a technical challenge that will require substantial development effort and investment. Industry needs time to recoup investment in Euro V products and adequate lead-time before Euro VI becomes mandatory”, said Ivan Hodac, secretary general of ACEA, “However, we are confident that the EU truck industry will rise to the challenge that will result in NOx and particulate matter emissions from EU trucks being reduced by over 95 and 98% respectively, compared to the levels at the time of Euro I.”

ACEA is actively seeking harmonisation of standards worldwide and to support their quest, the European truck manufacturers announced in November this year that they aimed to reduce NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions by a further 80% and particulate matter by 50% as part of the Euro VI standards, compared to the current Euro V emission standards for trucks in the EU. These highly ambitious emission standards for Euro VI should enable the EU and the US to align future emission standards, paving the way for harmonised standards around the globe.

The EU first introduced air pollution control or ‘Euro’ standards in 1991. The emission levels have subsequently been lowered and trucks are now approaching the ‘zero emission level’. The European commercial vehicles are the safest, cleanest and most fuel-efficient in the world and the European manufacturers are world leaders.

ACEA represents the 14 European automobile manufacturers, including DAF, Daimler, FIAT (Iveco), MAN Nutzfahrzeuge, Scania, Volkswagen and Volvo (including Renault Trucks).

For further information, please contact Sigrid de Vries, Director Communications, ACEA +32 2 738 73 45 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Please also visit http://www.acea.be

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