Leading Vehicle Manufacturers Claim Fuel Economy Regulations Will Not Reduce CO2 Emissions

London, United Kingdom, June 09, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Potential fuel economy regulations are not needed in the fight to reduce heavy duty vehicle CO2 emissions, according to leading OEMs.

Speaking at Integer Research’s Diesel Emission Conference in Dusseldorf, representatives from Daimler, Volvo and the ACEA (The European Automobile Manufacturers Association) argued that market forces are more effective than legislative targets.

Rolf Willkrans, Director of Environmental Affairs at Volvo Group, stated that new regulation was not the answer to reducing CO2 emissions across Europe. Instead, driver education, emissions targets combined with the necessity of reducing operating costs, and therefore fuel consumption, would be more important.

This was echoed by Stefan Larsson, Director Regulatory Projects at the ACEA, who believes that market forces, including fuel supply and fuel taxes, would do enough to drive development in fuel economy and CO2 reduction.

However, Nikolas Hill, Knowledge Leader – Transport Technology and Fuels from AEA, argued that regulation is necessary as it will play a part in meeting long-term reduction targets: “The implementation of heavy-duty vehicle CO2 reduction legislation would provide the industry with a level of certainty in knowing in what areas emission reductions can be made and by how much.”

Mr. Hill argues that whilst the regulation is required, it must be produced in consultation with vehicle manufacturers to achieve longer term CO2 reduction target levels.

The debate took place at Integer Research’s 8thDiesel Emissions Conference & AdBlue® Forum Europe 2012, taking place at the Hilton in Dusseldorf from 30th May – 1st June. The conference brought together key stakeholders from across the automotive industry, including manufacturers, policy makers, trade bodies and industry experts to discuss developments in diesel emissions.

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