ACEM’s Secretary General, Jacques Compagne says that, “This vote falls short of the stated intention to fully streamline the calendar of the new type approval process.” with ACEM adding regarding, tightening the reduction process on emmissions and making ABS mandatory on all motorcycles as from 2016″, ACEM has deplored the IMCO vote outcome, which would translate into a heavier burden due to the added costs of more stringent environmental and safety measures. This applies in particular to light motorcycles and scooters of the 125cc class (L3-A1).
ACEM Press Release
8th December 2011
The European Parliament’s IMCO Committee reviewed the introduction date of the first measures, without however reaching a complete streamlining of the complex set of new prescriptions foreseen for the type-approval of L-category vehicles.
PRESS RELEASE
The European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) voted on Monday in Brussels on its report on the European Commission proposal for a regulation on the approval and market surveillance of two- and three wheelers and quadricycles (COM 2010/542).
Acknowledging an unprecedentedly difficult market environment for the motorcycle industry*, the vote of the IMCO Committee took into account the demands of the industry for feasible lead-time before introducing new type-approval requirements for L-category vehicles (motorcycles, mopeds, scooters, quadricycles, tricycles).
Motorcycle manufacturers also supported the rationalization of the proposed timetable of the regulation made complex due to the creation of new vehicle categories and a multitude of different prescriptions unevenly scattered over a nine years period. The amendments voted by the IMCO Committee make an attempt at streamlining the calendar, without however reaching necessary rationalization.
The IMCO Committee furthermore voted to delete one emission reduction step for all categories of vehicles except mopeds, however tightening the reduction process and making ABS mandatory on all motorcycles as from 2016.
On this point, ACEM deplores the IMCO vote outcome, which would translate into a heavier burden due to the added costs of more stringent environmental and safety measures. This applies in particular to light motorcycles and scooters of the 125cc class (L3-A1), which form the core of the EU ailing market and provide urban mobility and social cohesion benefits to citizens, as recognised by the IMCO report itself.
For this category of motorcycles, ACEM regrets that safe advanced braking systems alternatives to ABS such as Combined Braking Systems have been scrapped from the available safety measures, effectively wiping out years of investments in research and development.
Furthermore, IMCO voted against amendments supporting international harmonisation in terms of the durability test procedure, which brings unnecessary duplications of tests and costs to industry and, in the end for the consumer, without any measurable environmental benefit.
According to Mr Wim van de Camp, EP Rapporteur on this regulation, IMCO has sought to take into account the current difficult business environment for the whole sector and the need to support jobs in Europe: “We want to ensure sufficient time is available for the development of the technical details accompanying this main text. Manufacturers need lead-time to apply the ambitious requirements of this complex regulation.
Following the vote that took place, and in our discussions with Council and Commission, it will be our priority to verify the calendar so as to ensure streamlining of the prescriptions is compatible with industrial processes.
Finally, especially in light of the current economic difficulties, before taking a final position IMCO will run a study on the economic impact of the environmental and safety goals we proposed.”
* The final vote of the European Parliament is expected to be held by the in March 2012.
QUOTE: Jacques Compagne, ACEM Secretary General stated: “Committed to improve safety and reduce emissions according to a realistic and progressive roadmap, ACEM members have been calling for a feasible timeline, taking into account the diversity of L-category vehicles, their different usage purposes and costs.
This vote falls short of the stated intention to fully streamline the calendar of the new type approval process.
We still have not reached the point where the proposed regulation meets the stated goals of CARS21, in terms of better and smart regulation.
We therefore welcome IMCO’s decision to carry out an impact assessment on the proposed changes, and look forward to discussing its results with the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission”.
About ACEM: ACEM, the Motorcycle Industry in Europe, is the professional body representing the interests and combined skills of 13 manufacturers producing more than 30 brands of vehicles – mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles – as well as 15 national associations out of 13 European countries, employing over 150.000 people.
The aggregated turnover of the PTW sector (manufacturing, plus upstream and downstream activities) amounted to Euro 34 billion in 2008.
Manufacturers alone account for Euro 7 billion. The members of ACEM account for 90% of the production and up to 80% of the European powered two-wheeler market.
ACEM also represents main manufacturers of tricycles and quadricycles.
Original Source: www.acem.eu
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