ACEA statement on national emissions test results

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.