Euro 7 costs ‘up to 10 times higher’ than original estimates

The cost of implementing Euro 7 proposals for cars, vans and trucks will be four to 10 times higher than those highlighted by the European Commission, new research suggests.

The study by Frontier Economics calculates a per vehicle cost of around €2,000 (£1,740) for cars and vans with an internal combustion engine, and close to €12,000 (£10,450) for diesel trucks and buses.

The Commission estimates in its Euro 7 impact assessment a cost €180-450 (£156-390) for cars and vans, and €2,800 (£2,430) for trucks and buses.

The estimates comprise direct manufacturing costs only, primarily for equipment and investments.

The report says that prices to customers would be higher than the figures cited in the study.

Sigrid de Vries, director general of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), said: “The European auto industry is committed to further reducing emissions for the benefit of the climate, environment, and health.

“However, the Euro 7 proposal is simply not the right way to do this, as it would have an extremely low environmental impact at an extremely high cost.

“Greater environmental and health benefits will be achieved by the transition to electrification, while at the same time replacing older vehicles on EU roads with highly efficient Euro 6/VI models.”

In addition to direct costs, the Euro 7 proposal will trigger indirect costs, such as higher fuel consumption, claims the ACEA.

Over a vehicle’s lifetime, it says that this could increase fuel costs by 3.5% – amounting to an extra €20,000 (£17,400) for long-haul trucks and €650 (£560) for cars and vans.

The ACEA says that they would add to the total cost of owning a vehicle, placing additional financial pressures on consumers and businesses at a time of high inflation and rising energy prices.