Van manufacturers must cut their vehicles' emissions to 175 g of carbon dioxide per kilometre, according to new proposals set out by the EU yesterday (October 28th).
The deadline for compliance with the new legislation is 2016, four years later than was initially proposed.
Opposition from the major manufacturers resulted in the changes to the timescale, as many companies argued that they required a greater period of time in order to recover from the economic downturn.
The EU is rolling the plans out on a staggered basis, with three-quarters of vans required to hit the target by 2014, rising to 80 per cent in 2015 and covering all vehicles by 2016.
Stavros Dimas, European environment commissioner, told reporters: "The level of ambition was not as high as it was initially, but it is still an important decision."
"This proposal is good for consumers, good for industry and good for the environment," he added.
Van makers will now face fines for exceeding the limit, starting at €5 (£4.50) per van for each gram over, rising up to €120 (£108) per gram if emissions reach 178 g per km.
Posted by Joseph Hutton
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