The FIA European Bureau welcomes the European Commission’s plans to achieve climate neutrality and improve air quality through the enhancement of the Euro 7 regulation on vehicle emissions. Likewise, the FIA EB supports the objectives and principles stressed in the impact assessment report of the Revision of the Roadworthiness Package. However, technological neutrality, affordability for consumers, a critical revision of testing and monitoring procedures, and availability of in-vehicle data should be taken onboard.

Since a fast reduction of pollutants in moderate steps is the most efficient way to clean the European Union’s fleet, both pieces of legislation should adopt a technology-neutral approach: all propulsion technologies (including electric battery vehicles, petrol, and diesel engines) should be tested against cost-efficient performance criteria, and none of them should be pushed to the side-lines in the market.

“These new environmental and safety requirements must be proportionate and cost-effective to remain affordable and accessible for consumers,” stated Laurianne Krid, FIA Region I Director General.

The FIA EB recommends to critically review the current environmental testing and monitoring procedures, to adjust performance criteria, as well as to implement a simple methodology in doing so. Limits for the emissions of several pollutants, such as methane or ammonia, should be introduced, while identical limits for petrol and diesel across technologies should be established.

Equally, vehicles should be tested both in the laboratory and on the road, to ensure that real-world emissions are and will remain low over the vehicles’ lifetime. In terms of methodology, testing should be based on information collected through the vehicle’s diagnostic system (e.g., Onboard Diagnostics), which should also be checked periodically.

In addition, consumers must remain in control of all non-mandatory data, while being empowered to give or withdraw consent to share their data at any time. Likewise, inspection bodies and independent auditors, such as Green NCAP, should have access to relevant diagnostic data and functions directly and free of charge, without restrictions or blocking mechanisms set up by manufacturers.  The FIA EB calls upon the Commission to mandate the Secure Onboard Telematics Platform (S-OTP) to achieve the balance between data security over the vehicle’s lifetime, and access to in-vehicle data and functions for authorised parties.

READ OUR POLICY POSITION ON EURO 7 HERE

READ OUR POLICY POSITION ON THE REVISION OF THE ROADWORTHINESS LEGISLATION HERE

Contact

Lisandra Fesalbon
Communications Officer – FIA Region I
lfesalbon@fia.com