Commercial vehicle sales hampered by uncertainty over emissions rules

Efforts to improve sales of heavy commercial vehicles in the UK are being hampered by continued confusion over the technologies that will be necessary to comply with emissions regulations, according to EurotaxGlass’s.

Registrations of heavy commercial vehicles are expected to fall by more than 10 per cent this year.

“In 2007 it was hoped that the effects of legislation on truck sales would be less pronounced, with the EGR/SCR debate settling down and with customers able to calmly make informed decisions,” comments George Alexander, Chief Commercial Vehicle Editor at EurotaxGlass’s. “Accordingly, this was to be a year of consolidation, with the new truck market reverting to a more traditional sales pattern. However, just when such a peaceful scenario seemed to be within reach, legislators stepped in again and muddied the waters.

“We now have three camps battling it out for the hearts, minds and cash of those operators who by now must be thoroughly confused about how best to run their fleet, let alone save the planet. There is now EGR, SCR, and SCR with the reduced pollution certificate scheme to choose between, in addition to determining whether to stay at Euro IV or go Euro V.”

“If clear guidelines had been set out 30 months ago then this whole debate could have been avoided. The way this administration has made life difficult for road haulage by interpreting EU rules in an inconsistent manner shows just how little they care about our industry,” he concludes.