GKN Driveline says Europe could see a 75g limit for C02 imposed by Brussels as early as 2025 as legislators increasingly turn their attention to low-carbon vehicles.
The UK component manufacturer is heavily involved with both C02 and weight reduction that will already see a 95g limit introduced in 2020, although this could be sweetened by government-led incentives.
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“Some degree of subsidy for low-carbon vehicles makes sense,” GKN Driveline global engineering director, Rob Rickell, told just-auto. “I work a lot in Germany and Germany does not have any form of subsidy – [whereas] Japan/US – there is and I think it makes sense initially because in the long term it has to be sustainable.
“There is an understanding the automotive supplier industry is key in terms of technology improvements and emissions reduction. Ninety-five grams legislation will come in 2020 and I think most probably 75g will come in 2025.
“There will be some exceptions and changes on that, but generally speaking, that is a very clear trend. As far as automotive suppliers are concerned, it is a difficult target, but it is an achievable target. It is not absolutely impossible, but it is a lot of hard work.”
Rickell added GKN Driveline was involved with range extenders with some of its hybrid gearbox technology, but estimated that sector would only form around 10% of the market.
The GKN Driveline engineering director added the Chinese market remained “absolutely key for the company with growth increasing for the supplier by double digits, while Russia also continues to improve.
“We are looking very seriously at Russia – if you want to be successful in the long term you have to be local because of the legislation,” he said. “The market has huge potential.”
Closer to home, GKN welcomed the attitude of the British government to the automotive sector.
“What is good to see is the UK government is finally realising that industry and the automotive industry [are] important,” said Rickell.
“It was not always the case.”
