In an update on the UK Government website, the Department for Transport said the move was to avoid a situation whereby manufacturers would have to double test as a result of different requirements in the Great Britain and the EU.
“Manufacturers who operate in both EU and GB markets have indicated that they intend to sell models of vehicle complying with Euro 6e in both markets but would naturally prefer not to also test those models against the Euro 6d requirements, which would amount to double testing,” says the UK Department for Transport (DfT).
By adopting Euro 6e, the Department for Transport says the UK will benefit from cleaner vehicles and improved air quality, without the manufacturers incurring the cost of double testing.
“Manufacturers will be allowed to continue to produce Euro 6d vehicles for the market in Great Britain until further notice: they can continue to demonstrate compliance via Euro 6d testing. Future emissions requirements for vehicles to be sold in GB are being assessed and may be consulted upon in future.” adds the DfT).
In addition to this, one of the “lower priority subjects” referred to by the DfT in its update concerned the technical specification for the rear registration plate space.
There is now divergence between the EU and GB specifications, and industry has called for the EU specification to be adopted in Great Britain too.
The DfT says that the differences in specifications do not affect safety or the visibility of the plate, so it considers it appropriate to accept this proposal.
“As a first step, therefore, we propose to accept vehicles meeting the EU specification for rear registration plate space. This would be demonstrated by a test report from a designated technical service. The VCA as the GB approval authority will retain the ultimate say over whether the test report is an acceptable demonstration of compliance,” notes the DfT.
