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Carmakers Argue to Keep EU’s Aging Fuel Economy Test

European carmakers want the European Union to delay plans to replace its 44-year-old fuel economy rating test with a tougher one in 2017, the Financial Times reports.
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European carmakers want the European Union to delay plans to replace its 44-year-old fuel economy rating test with a tougher one in 2017, the Financial Times reports.

BMW AG has urged a delay to 2020 for the proposed switch to the United Nations-developed World Light (Vehicle) Test Procedure. Analysts tell the FT that the shifting to the WLTP could cost Europe's auto industry €10 billion in higher compliance costs.

Carmakers are legally bound to achieve an average carbon dioxide emission level of 95 g/km by 2021. Today's fuel economy ratings and CO2 emissions are calculated by the New European Driving Cycle test created in 1970.

But the NEDC generates numbers that are about 30% better than vehicles achieve in real-world driving, critics say. They complain that carmakers have been "gaming" the test to improve their test results.

Carmakers agree that the new test would be more accurate. But industry group ACEA cautions against "rushing to meet unrealistic deadlines."

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