Motor vehicle sound levels: auto industry calls for ‘reasonable & coherent framework

“Europe already has the most stringent limit values in the world today. It will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to meet some of these limit values proposed by the European Parliament,” explained ACEA Secretary General, Ivan Hodac. “The industry is committed to its responsibility for further reducing the sound level of its vehicles, and requires a reasonable and coherent framework in which to do so. ACEA will now continue to work with the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Member States to ensure that this is the case, and that the final piece of legislation is acceptable to industry while responding to environmental and health concerns.”

The legislative requirements on noise cannot be taken in isolation, but need to be considered in the broader framework regulating the industry. Indeed different policy goals in areas like fuel consumption, noise and safety not only have a cumulative effect, but also have created contradictory rules.

Hodac: “It essential that the main conclusions of CARS 21 and CARS 2020 – which call for smarter, more coordinated regulation for the automotive industry – are respected.” Vehicle manufacturers work every day to make their vehicles safer and cleaner. Today’s cars are over 90% quieter than those from the 1970s, and today’s trucks make more than 10 times less noise than those built in 1970.