Van and truck makers want more effective global standards, particularly for emissions, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd’s Transport News Brief.
Three sets of regulations dominate, one based on European laws, a second based on Japanese and a third based on North American requirements. The lack of global standards means vehicle makers have to design, develop and test three different engines to do the same job, when one would do.
"We need 1,000 engineers on engine development," said Goran Simonson at Volvo. "If there was one clear global standard, maybe we could halve that number."
As it is, he says manufacturers are paying and inevitably passing on extra costs to customers. "Eventually these hit consumers, and for no clear benefit."
More from Nigel Hanwell at [email protected].