EU proposes sweeping overhaul on car test regulations to prevent another Volkwagen-like emission scandal

The European Union's executives plan a major overhaul on how new car models should be tested to determine excessive emissions. This wholesale change aims to prevent last year's Volkswagen scandal.

CNBC reported that car emissions in EU are almost five times above the set limits. One of the leading reasons for this problem is how the current tests are done. These tests are carried out in the lab where vehicle manufacturers could easily bypass certain procedures to pass. Car companies could easily pull the back seat to make the car lighter, or tape the doors to minimize air drag. However, under the new, tighter rules will let the EU commission conduct spot tests on cars that are already out in the market.

According to Reuters, the EU commission members would be allowed to order recalls and penalize carmakers of up to $32,600, or 30,000 euros for each vehicle. These new rules are considered the strongest response to the Volkswagen scandal that shocked the auto world. The German carmaker admitted in September that it used software that could let it pass the US admissions tests.

The scandal only shows that the EU vehicle regulations are weak. European Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen said, "We have to make sure that it never happens again."

The Verge wrote that centers would bid to let manufacturers have their cars tested with them for a fee. Now, the new rule requires the fee to be given to EU member states and will later on be disbursed. This way, there won't be financial biases between the manufacturer and the companies approving their cars.

The proposed guidelines still needs approval from all EU member states and the European Parliament before it is passed as a law. Voting is scheduled next week. The European Parliament's environmental committee had expressed that the new bill are too easy on the vehicle manufacturing companies.

Meanwhile, the US Environmental Protection  Agency has started to strengthen its real world emission test rules since last year.

Tags

European Union, emission tests, overhaul, Volkswagen, Automotive, carmakers, EU, vehicle regulations

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