ACEA statement on national emissions test results

Brussels, 25 April 2016 – The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) takes note of the announcements of recent vehicle tests by Germany’s federal motor transport authority (KBA) as well as the UK Department for Transport.
Both these announcements highlight the known differences between laboratory test cycles and real-life driving conditions, with actual real-life emissions varying depending on conditions met on the road and on driver behaviour. It is important to stress that all vehicles tested are compliant with current regulatory requirements.
The automobile industry recognises that the current test cycle (NEDC), which was designed in the 1980s, is now obsolete. “This is why we have been advocating for many years for an updated laboratory test – WLTP – as well as an additional new test to measure pollutant emissions on the road,” stated ACEA Secretary General, Erik Jonnaert. This new procedure is known as Real Driving Emissions (RDE).
The European Commission has adopted a step-by-step approach to introducing RDE, splitting the legislation over a total of four separately-approved ‘packages’. The approval of the second RDE package by the European Parliament in February is essential to enable manufacturers to start preparing for the introduction of the new emissions test, but two key packages are still missing and are urgently needed to complete the legislation. The Commission has the aim of presenting the third package to the member states by October 2016 and the final part should be presented by early 2017.
“These results show again that we now need to move forward with the new testing conditions in order to bridge the gap with the lab test,” Jonnaert stated. “RDE represents a tremendous effort for Europe’s car manufacturers, both in terms of investments and production, but our industry will take up this challenge,” confirmed Jonnaert.
Manufacturers are fully supportive of this effort and advocate the prompt introduction of these new regulations, which will provide clarity for customers and the industry.
About ACEA
- The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) represents the 14 major Europe-based car, van, truck and bus makers: BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Ferrari, Ford of Europe, Honda Motor Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Iveco Group, JLR, Mercedes-Benz, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, and Volvo Group
- Visit www.acea.auto for more information about ACEA, and follow us on www.twitter.com/ACEA_auto or www.linkedin.com/company/ACEA/
Contact:
- Cara McLaughlin, Communications Director, cm@acea.auto, +32 485 88 66 47
- Ben Kennard, Content Editor and Press Manager, bk@acea.auto, +32 2 738 73 17
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About the EU automobile industry
- 12.9 million Europeans work in the automotive sector
- 8.3% of all manufacturing jobs in the EU
- €392.2 billion in tax revenue for European governments
- €101.9 billion trade surplus for the European Union
- Over 7% of EU GDP generated by the auto industry
- €59.1 billion in R&D spending annually, 31% of EU total