New Euro 6 rules could catch industry napping
27th January 2011
And yet, according to a survey by Chevron of 500 vehicle buyers across a range of fleet sizes, almost three quarters did not know when the legalisation was due to commence. Of the remaining 26%, only one in three could name the date correctly as 2013. Smaller fleets in particular were unfamiliar with the changes ahead.
Chevron also asked survey participants how the legislation might affect their buying strategies – 67% said they had given it no thought at all, 16% planned to upgrade to Euro 6 as soon as possible, 9% believed it would have no effect on them, and 8% expected to either extend their vehicle replacement cycle or invest in second-hand Euro 5 vehicles initially.
To meet the new Euro 6 standards, manufacturers are finding that there’s a price to pay in terms of fuel economy. Many expect their current fuel efficiency ratings to fall by around 6%. However, Mercedes-Benz has said its new generation of commercial vehicles will achieve an increase in fuel economy of up to 2%.