Brussels, 08/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - The EURO VI regulation took effect at the beginning of the year limiting polluting emissions from new heavy duty vehicles, such as lorries and buses. European Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani has said this emission reduction “will help clean up the air we breathe and improve the competitiveness of Europe's automobile industry. As agreed in our recently adopted cars action plan, we are creating a win-win situation: we will have cleaner trucks and buses, which will be trendsetters and exportable worldwide”. The new, stricter limits mainly aim to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide and particulate matter. The Commission believes they will bring reductions of 80% and 66% respectively. The new EURO VI regulation also brings in global harmonised test procedures and standards.
The new limits replace those of the EURO V regulation. They were adopted in June 2009 and became effective on 31 December 2012. Before that date, however, the automobile industry was already showing compliance. Since official enforcement of the regulation, member states have been authorised to introduce financial incentives for renewing the fleet with less polluting vehicles. (MD/transl.jl)