July 6, 2007

Truckmakers Get Ready For New Emissions Standards

Governments around the world are tightening emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks, forcing manufacturers to increase their spending on research and raising concerns that sales and profits could suffer, MarketWatch reports.

There are concerns that the lower fuel efficiency that some new emission-control systems bring about could raise costs for drivers, and therefore slow future sales.

Anders Johannesson, vice president of environment and public affairs at Volvo AB, said his company’s profit would be hurt if sales fall. But, he said, that might not happen. Demand for cutting-edge trucks should remain strong in Europe, he said, partially because some countries, such as Germany with its Maut road toll system, are giving significant financial incentives to truckers using green vehicles. That system gives substantial benefits to truckers who drive cleaner vehicles through Germany, according to the article.

Paul Greening, director of emissions and fuels at the Brussels-based European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, estimates that European truck makers will spend about EUR2.3 billion a year by 2020, mostly on hardware and R&D.

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