The European Commission (EC) is drawing up plans which would require vans and light trucks sold in the European Union to adhere to tighter emissions regulations.

Despite resistance from lobby group Acea, the Financial Times understands that under the EC plans light commercial vehicles would be required to achieve an average CO2 emissions target of 175g/km by 2013.

This compares with the current objective of 200g/km, while a more ambitious long-term goal of 135g/kg has also been mooted.

Concern has been mounting that manufacturers will attempt to get around emissions targets by reclassifying certain passenger cars as light commercial vehicles, and the proposed EC action would help to close this loophole.

According to Dudley Curtis at green campaign group Transport and Environment, the EC has reason to be suspicious.

"In the US, the exemption of SUVs [sport-utility vehicles] from environmental standards in the 1970s and 80s contributed to massive over-representation of these categories of vehicles," he told the news provider.

The move will have a significant impact on the industry as more than two million light commercial vehicles are sold in the EU every year.

Earlier this year, president Barack Obama imposed tougher fuel consumption targets on the US auto industry and also set up a scheme to encourage Americans to trade in their cars for more fuel-efficient alternatives.

Source:

Motor lobby attacks EU emission plans for vans and light trucks (12/08/09)

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