Practically, your car’s fuel consumption performance will not change with these new WLTP values. The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure will result in a higher g/km CO2 value for the one and same vehicle compared to NEDC, simply because it is a more rigorous and longer test – meaning the WLTP will provide a better reflection of today’s situation than the NEDC. In other words, the higher CO2 value does not mean increased fuel consumption, but rather a more realistic CO2 value due to the change in how the vehicles are tested.
Transition Timeline: From NEDC to WLTP
- Cars type approved using NEDC before September 2017 can still be sold.
- WLTP type approval testing will be introduced for new car types.
- Some cars will have ‘old’ NEDC values, while others will already be certified under the new WLTP conditions.
- The industry would like to start using WLTP-based results for general consumer information (eg sales brochures and websites).
- During the period of transition (up until the end of 2018), only NEDC values should be used on labels and information in dealerships to enable consumers to compare different cars.
- It is expected that national tax regulations will continue to be based on NEDC values.
The same car suddenly has two different CO2 values, why is this?
- All new cars must be certified according to the WLTP test procedure, and no longer on NEDC.
- An exception should be made for end-of-series vehicles to allow for a limited number of unsold vehicles in stock that were approved under the old NEDC test to be sold for one more year.
- All cars in dealerships should have WLTP-CO2 values only to avoid any confusion among consumers, in the view of the automobile industry.
- National governments should adjust vehicle taxation and fiscal incentives to WLTP values, respecting the principle that WLTP should not have a negative impact on consumers.
Will WLTP affect how much car tax I pay?
The same car suddenly has two different CO2 values, why is this?
- The European Commission will convert today’s (NEDC-based) CO2 targets to specific WLTP-CO2 targets of comparable stringency. These new WLTP targets will apply for monitoring car fleet compliance.
