The European Parliament in Brussels has agreed improved Weights and Dimensions Directive rules, moving from an initial 40-tonne heavy-goods gross vehicle weight limit to 44-tonnes. The caveat, however, is that after 2034, these weight exemptions will only apply to zero-emission vehicles.

From 7 July this year, all newly registered vehicles in the European Union must comply with the second tranche of rules known as the ‘General Safety Regulation’ (“GSR II”). These regulations will require all new road vehicles to be installed with more advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) which employ some of the latest innovations being made at the cutting edge of artificial intelligence. These include systems for intelligent speed assistance; reversing detection with cameras and/or sensors; attention warnings in case of driver drowsiness or distraction; event data recorders; and emergency stop signals.

The importance of fire suppression systems in vehicles can be seen first-hand in January this year, with an electric double-decker bus catching fire in Wimbledon, UK.

European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has elected Domenico Nucera (President of Iveco Bus) as Chairman of its bus and coach division for the year 2024.

European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has elected Harald Seidel (President of DAF Trucks), as Chairman of the Commercial Vehicle Board for 2024. Seidel will work alongside the ACEA President, Luca de Meo (CEO of Groupe Renault) who is serving in his second one-year term and has been in close consultation with EU policymakers over the now proposed, Euro VII legislation.

According to the Department for Transport, all new sales of cars and vans powered solely by an internal combustion engine (ICE) will be banned by 2035, with heavy-goods vehicles following suit in 2040. This has now become law in the UK, as part of the country's Net Zero Strategy.

Luca de Meo recently unveiled a roadmap for developing a competitive European green mobility ecosystem, co-signed by the heads of Europe’s largest commercial vehicle OEMs. The roadmap, submitted to the EU Parliament and Commission is premised on three pillars of supply, production and demand, encompassing views of all relevant industry stakeholders.

The European Council proposes lowering the emission limits for commercial vehicles slightly adjusting their test conditions.

The two organisations aim to offer testing and certification services in the fields of Advanced Driver Systems (ADAS), Road-Load Data Acquisition (RLDA), and vehicle dynamics to OEMs, as well as to technology and component suppliers in the country.

The company now aims to acquire certificates from FMVSS, as well as the California Air Resources Board and the Environmental Protection Agency, before the end of the year, making its ‘P7’ vehicles roadworthy and eligible for incentives.

Proposal is for mandatory fitment of AC systems in new trucks from 2025.

Testing adduced a volumetric score of 32.82 cubic metres, the highest ever achieved by a vehicle assessed for the Direct Vision Standard (the second-best score being 22 cubic metres).