The study finds that the proposed Euro 7 regulation will increase the manufacturing costs of cars, vans, trucks, and buses.
Frontier Economics estimates the per vehicle costs at around €2,000 for cars and vans with an internal combustion engine, and close to €12,000 for diesel trucks and buses.
As the ACEA has highlighted, the figures are 4 to 10 times higher than the Commission’s estimates in its Euro 7 impact assessment (€180-450 for cars and vans, and €2,800 for trucks and buses).
Moreover, the aforementioned estimates comprise of direct manufacturing costs only, primarily for equipment and investments.
The ACEA stresses that these additional costs do not correspond with purchase prices; instead they drive up prices for end-users even further. It is said that price increases would likely therefore be higher than the figures cited in the study.
Photo: ACEA
In a press release, the ACEA states that the current Euro 6/VI rules are the “most comprehensive and stringent standards for pollutant emissions (such as NOx and particulate matter) in the world”.
The association adds that “exhaust emissions are already at a barely measurable level thanks to state-of-the-art vehicle technology.”
Commenting on the Euro 7 proposals and the Frontier Economics research, Sigrid de Vries, Director General of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, said:
“The European auto industry is committed to further reducing emissions for the benefit of the climate, environment, and health. However, the Euro 7 proposal is simply not the right way to do this, as it would have an extremely low environmental impact at an extremely high cost. Greater environmental and health benefits will be achieved by the transition to electrification, while at the same time replacing older vehicles on EU roads with highly efficient Euro 6/VI models.”
On top of the above, the ACEA notes that the Euro 7 proposal will trigger indirect costs such as higher fuel consumption. Over a vehicle’s lifetime, it is believed this could increase fuel costs by 3.5% – amounting to an extra €20,000 for long-haul trucks and €650 for cars and vans.
Photo: SpielvogelFor a gallery of some more of my uploaded pictures see: here., CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (image cropped)
