BERLIN, July 29 (Reuters) - Germany plans to put back the launch of a new truck road toll system by two months from the end of August until November 1 amid doubts about a smooth start to the scheme, sources close to the project said on Tuesday.
The sources said the delay to the toll would cost the German government around 320 million euros ($368 million) in lost revenues.
The delay, which comes amid increasing reports of technical problems with the satellite-based tracking equipment used in the planned toll system, follows a decision by the European Union last week to launch a probe into the scheme.
The EU, which plans a Europe-wide road toll system, is investigating government plans to compensate German truckers for the extra costs of the new tolls. It is also concerned that the scheme will place local firms at an unfair advantage over foreign rivals travelling through Germany.
A consortium led by DaimlerChrysler and Deutsche Telekom has developed the satellite-based toll collection system which will apply to trucks weighing more than 12 tonnes.