SPAREPARTS
EUROPEAN transport ministers have agreed a new energy rating system for tyres, which is expected to come in from 2012. As well as fuel efficiency, it will also indicate wet grip levels and rolling resistance. There would also be a low noise mark. MEPs claim the system could save motorists up to 10% on their fuel costs. THE European Commission has proposed a new law to cut average CO2 emissions from vans. It wants to set van manufacturers a 'fleet average' target of 175g CO2/km, or 42.8 miles per gallon. The requirement would be phased in from 2014, when the average emissions from 75% of a manufacturer's new vans would have to comply, rising to 80% in 2015 and 100% in 2016.
If the average emissions of a manufacturer's fleet exceeds its limit in any year from 2014, they would have to pay a penalty for each van registered – ¤5 for the first g/km over, ¤15 for the second, ¤25 for the third and ¤120 for each subsequent g/km. From 2019, the first g/km of exceedance would cost ¤120. SILVER is the most popular car colour worldwide for the ninth consecutive year, according to PPG Industries. More than in one three (35 percent) of European motorists prefer it, followed by black (22 percent) and blue and white (13 percent each). VOLKSWAGEN'S chief executive Martin Winterkorn believes the worldwide automotive market won't match pre-recession levels until 2013 at the earliest.
'It's clear that 2010 will be a very difficult year,' he said.
'There are growing signs that the worst of the crisis may now be behind us, but it will take time for the markets to recover.'
Emerging economies such as China and India will be the source of any sales growth in the future, he added, noting that an estimated 300 million people in China are waiting to buy their first car, while the proportion of vehicles per resident in India is 11 cars per 1,000 people compared with 500 per 1,000 in Germany.
