European automakers voiced concern over an upcoming regulation that will require diesel car emissions to be tested under “real world” conditions.
The new rule will require diesel vehicles sold in the EU to undergo tests on roads rather than in laboratories starting in September 2017.
The laboratory tests have drawn criticism from environmental groups as under-stating the real level of potentially harmful emissions from diesel cars.
Industry group ACEA said in a statement that the new tests will require automakers to make major changes in testing and developing new vehicles but this will be difficult because the regulation is incomplete.
“The industry is being asked to design today for requirements that will only be known next year,” an ACEA spokeswoman said. The changes can only be made once there is full clarity on the new test cycle, ACEA said in a statement.
The lobby group said the current proposal is incomplete because it does not meet the following criteria: a comprehensive set of requirements; specified performance limits; dates of application for the regulation because the September 2017 start date is not yet confirmed by EU law.
ACEA is asking EU regulators for a “complete proposal” by June or July at the latest.
