Opel says it will publish WLTP test cycle based fuel consumption numbers, reflecting more everyday driving conditions and it will also implement improved SCR diesel applications in new vehicles – which will lower harmful NOx emissions. The initiatives are voluntary ahead of regulatory changes in Europe due to come into force in 2017.
The company says it will take the voluntarily next step to improve transparency and meet future emission protocols. Starting with the new Opel Astra from June 2016 onwards, and in addition to the official fuel consumption and CO2 information, Opel will publish fuel consumption numbers, reflecting different driving behaviour recorded under the WLTP test cycle. In addition, Opel will implement an initiative to improve NOx emissions on SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) diesel applications in new vehicles from August onwards. This is a voluntary and early intermediate step towards the so-called RDE (Real Driving Emissions) legislation that goes into effect in September 2017.
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Opel says it is offering to provide the regulatory authorities with the engine calibration strategies, which should "serve as the basis for a proactive dialogue".
"We at Opel strongly believe that the industry has to regain trust by increasing the transparency with customers and authorities. Opel takes this step towards RDE to show it can be done," said Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. "We announced in December in which direction we are going; now we are delivering the details. I ask the European Union as well as the EU member states and other European countries to accelerate alignment on test set-ups and test interpretations on real-driving-measurements to stop the existing uncertainty caused by test results that are hardly comparable."
