EU Gives Diesel SUVs More Time to Meet Euro5

The European Union Council of Ministers accepts the European Parliament’s compromise amendments that give diesel SUVs three more years than standard gasoline cars to comply with Euro5 emissions standards.

Auto makers now will have until January 2012 to ensure diesel passenger vehicles with a weight exceeding 4,409 lbs. (2,000 kg) and designed to carry seven or more occupants meet the regulations. Smaller gasoline cars must comply with the standards by September 2009.

The council also approves preliminary rules for the next set of Euro6 standards, which will come into force from September 2014. Those regulations will set significantly lower oxides of nitrogen emissions limits for diesel cars: 80 mg/km compared with the 250 mg/km allowed under Euro5.

In a statement, the council stresses the Euro5 and Euro6 standards will “reduce emissions of particulate matter and ozone precursors such as NOx and hydrocarbons” and says the early decisions on Euro6 regulations are needed for the auto industry to have clear information on future limits.