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Manufacturers positive over Euro-6 uptake

14th April 2011, Page 7
14th April 2011
Page 7
Page 7, 14th April 2011 — Manufacturers positive over Euro-6 uptake
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By George Barrow

MANUFACTURERS at the CV Show are optimistic about the uptake of Euro-6 technology, but believe the focus will remain on Euro-5 until legislative changes come into force in 2014.

“We’re certainly seeing the order intake for Euro-5 trucks increase,” say Sam Whittaker, Mercedes-Benz truck sales and marketing director. “Some customers are thinking about Euro6, and we’re looking at driving them through the process.” However, manufacturers are conident there will be a healthy demand for Euro-6 as the technology is reaching maturity. DAF XF product and service manager, Will Helmes, says: “We are trying to ind the ultimate balance of all the new components, we’re not ready yet as it is a step-by-step approach that will eventually bring fuel beneits, but one that will take all of the time the legislation allows.” Mercedes has already unveiled its Euro-6 engine – having conducted over 60 million kilometres of testing – in order to “get in early in the hope that there will be some sort of incentive” according to Nick Blake, Mercedes-Benz sales engineering manager. Blake says: “Variants of the same engine are in operation in the US and Japan, so we’re comfortable with the performance and reliability as the technology has been tried and tested.” Like DAF, MAN is still considering the technology and doesn’t plan to introduce Euro6 ahead of the legislation change.

Des Evans, CEO of MAN, says: “We’re not likely to have a prototype [engine] before the Hannover show in September 2012 and nothing [Euro-6 vehicle] before the second half of 2013. There’s no incentive to bring development forward, so the focus is with Euro-5 and EEV tractors. Euro-6 will cost more, and we’re not yet sure of the operator costs, so we will probably rent [to operators] the use of the trucks in the early days.”


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