A series of European automakers, including BMW and the Volkswagen Group have warned that new emissions testing procedures in the European Union will impact their production and profits. Just last week BMW acknowledged that it will stopp production of some models in May because of modifications required so their vehicles comply with RDE on-road emissions tests. BMW said the tests will interrupt production of models including various versions of the 7 Series, the X1, X2, X5 and X6.
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“Depending on the version of the model and its volume, the interruption could last between a couple of weeks and a few months,” BMW told Automotive News.
Last week, Volkswagen Group warned of potential bottlenecks as it seeks to get vehicles through the Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) laboratory-based testing.
Volkswagen finance chief Arno Antlitz said earlier this month that the automaker faced “heavy financial demands” due to bottlenecks expected from introducing WLTP tests, which are related to emissions and fuel consumption.
French automaker Renaul has also issued a statement on the WLTP impact.
“We have a lot of uncertainties. We don’t know how quickly the type approvals will be given. We don’t know if customers will be willing to pay the new prices because we need to add technologies,” Ghosn said.
WLTP is replacing the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) tests to measure exhaust emissions. The phase-in period required new-type vehicles introduced from last September to undergo WLTP testing. Starting this September, all new passenger vehicles sold in the EU must pass the test before they can be sold.
The RDE (real-driving emissions) test is a new procedure that measures pollutant emissions on the road. It will ensure that levels of fine particulates and nitrogen oxides measured during the WLTP laboratory testing are also met in normal operation on the road.
Well, bummer! This is the result of their own past dishonesty in testing and marketing the fuel consumption by all kinds of tricks, culminating with the Dieselgate. This had to end. Maybe they should consider a cut of profits rather that putting the new effects of regulations on clients. There would be the same results, actually.
Have BMW been charged with anything?
It is not about being charged or not, although that may come soon given the search mandates of the police at some Bmw premises. It’s about abusing the conditions of the NEDC system to list completely unreal consumption numbers and, thus, lower CO and NOx. Now, they have to test consumption cycle in real world like conditions and this will not be in line with the Euro 6 standards most likely, thus requiring further hardware and software improvements for some engines. Meaning more money that has to come from somwhere. Clients or shareholders.
VAG have been charged, fined, imprisoned.
NOTHING for BMW.
Why is that? And why are you here slandering and attempting to implicate them? Trolling? Or you somehow know more than the authorities?
Are you working for BMW or did you not read what the article says? The article is not only about BMW, so relax. Slandering…Lol. So you basically go and buy a car honestly believing that the consumption is 4.3l/100 km. Although all tests show that is almost double in real world. US and EU take measures to protect cosumers by designing and imposing a consumption testing system closer to reality and they start to whine that it affects their profits and production although they new the deadline for the new regulations.
The article (& the gov’t.) don’t accuse BMW of anything, you do. Gov’t. standards are reliable nowhere, caveat emptor. Dieselgate was only discovered by independent testing in America so obviously both regulators & VAG have failed, Mercedes as well I believe. Your op of “…their own past dishonesty…by all kinds of tricks, culminating with the Dieselgate” is related to BMW HOW? No, I do not work for them. I read. Try it. If I wanted 4.3l/100 km I’d lease an i3.
No, the article doesn’t, I didn’t say it did, but the regulators/governments noticed with the help of independent testing that they took advantage of the NEDC testing system and present unreal data related to consumption, so they changed the system in order to better reflect real world consumption and help consumers to make better informes decisions when buying a car. And yes , they were being kind of dishonest about their vehicles repecting Euro 6 standars, which they did if you would drive your car for a few minutes in the lab with half a tank full of diesel or petrol, no air conditioning, no wind, nice outside temoeratute, some chairs missing and other small twikings to the car. So there is no need for you to fiercely defend BMW or any other carmaker in this respect. Is ok to be a fan, I am too, but I am not blind.
“…did you not read what the article says?”. Yes, I did, & why I reality checked you when you falsely accused them.
Falsely accused them. So US and EU are changing the consumption test system and eforcing new rules for nothing. And I am the one needing reality check. Ok. Now go buy a 320d witn an advertised 3.9 l/100 km consumption and 130g of Co 2 per km. See if you can achieve that.