Meeting of the Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS)&nbsp;in Brussels.&nbsp; Hearing with Gaspar GASCON ABELLAN, Executive Vice President Engineering, Renault Group and questions by Pablo ZALBA BIDEGAIN (EPP, ES), Hans-Olaf HENKEL (ECR, DE) and Neoclis SYLIKIOTIS (GUE/NGL, CY).

Brussels

meeting

emissions of vehicles (T)

HENKEL, Hans-Olaf (ECR, DE)

SYLIKIOTIS, Neoklis (GUE/NGL, CY)

hearing

Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector

ZALBA BIDEGAIN, Pablo (EPP, ES)

Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector: extracts from the hearing with Gaspar GASCON ABELLAN, Executive Vice President Engineering, Renault Group

SOUNDBITE (English), Gaspar GASCON ABELLAN, Executive Vice President Engineering, Renault Group, I would like to thank you for providing us with the opportunity to express Renault views regarding the issue of the diesel and the NOx emissions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Gaspar GASCON ABELLAN, Executive Vice President Engineering, Renault Group, This measures will start coming into effect by the end of this month and all new diesel vehicles produced by our factories. As from October 2016 customers already drive in a diesel SRV vehicle. We also be able to benefi5t from these developments free of charge throughout our network of dealers. Of course, new models launched since April also integrate these developments.

SOUNDBITE (English), Gaspar GASCON ABELLAN, Executive Vice President Engineering, Renault Group, We need the support of key European stakeholders including the European Parliament to be ambitious on electro mobility in Europe. We have studied with a great attention the question sent to Renault by your Committee. I have tried to bring written answers that are concise, fact-based and accurate.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pablo ZALBA BIDEGAIN (EPP, ES), Do you think that the current legislative framework is good enough to ensure legal certainty, and also to ensure its compliancy.

SOUNDBITE (English), Gaspar GASCON ABELLAN, Executive Vice President Engineering, Renault Group, The standards that are currently into force are insufficient. Unfortunately, there is a lack of clarity and they are not in line what with public opinion wants to see. They are not in line with the fact that the type approval procedure need to be in line with real driving conditions for the daily use of cars. The European Commission is working on the new regulation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Gaspar GASCON ABELLAN, Executive Vice President Engineering, Renault Group, Under the new regulation we are have to present the AES (Auxiliary Emission Strategy) and BES (Basic Emission Strategy) files, which accurately states which the limits of the system are. To that respect, it would provide enough clarity to authorities and society regarding the reduction emission system. To that respect the new regulation is advancing in the good direction. It is needed to be completed to overcome certain gaps. The rural emission cylce still give room for interpretation.

SOUNDBITE (German), Hans-Olaf HENKEL (ECR, DE), Does Renault feels let down by Volkswagen as well? Taking into account the advantage they had using the software.

SOUNDBITE (English), Gaspar GASCON ABELLAN, Executive Vice President Engineering, Renault Group, Of course, this is not good news for the industry but at the same time they have put on the table the fact that they probably the regulation system was not completed. It was not robust enough in order to regulate the industry. Once it is clear that we have been bashed by all that what happened, on the other side, what we have to do is to see the way to improve in order to re-establish the confidence or the trust of the customers.

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Neoclis SYLIKIOTIS (GUE/NGL, CY), I know that Renault has been recalling vehicles, is this because there were a sudden realisation that they are not in line with the EU regulation? What was the reason for Renault to recall vehicles?

SOUNDBITE (French), Gaspar GASCON ABELLAN, Executive Vice President Engineering, Renault Grou, When the Volkswagen scandal emerged we carried out a full review of our procedure. We carried out an internal review because under that circumstances you have to check whether there is not anything that you are doing to the things that have been going on elsewhere. The clear response is no, we are sure that there are no similar fraud system in our vehicles. I think that was very clear.