Isuzu and other global truck and engine manufacturers have called for regulatory harmonization and closer cooperation among European, North American, and Japanese regulators to improve energy efficiency and reduce fuel consumption associated with on-road freight transport.
Meeting in Tokyo, the chief executives of more than 10 global truck and engine manufacturers discussed key issues facing their industry. It was the chief executives’ 12th meeting of this type. When asked, a spokesman refused to say what other companies attended the meeting.
Susumu Hosoi, president of Isuzu and chair of the meeting, said that accelerating efforts aimed at harmonization of test procedures and standards are needed to further advance the global objective of greenhouse gas reductions.
At the meeting, the group discussed issues related to:
- Fuel efficiency improvements and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions;
- Safety measures;
- The development of a certification procedure for heavy-duty hybrids;
- Harmonization of diesel fuel specifications and regulations; and
- Adoption of the worldwide heavy-duty emissions certification procedure.
The group agreed to advise their regional secretariats to continue the activities of the joint experts meetings. They also affirmed that trans-national/trans-regional cooperative efforts between industry and governments toward global harmonization can serve to promote improvements for customers and the global environment.
The European Automobile Manufacturers Association, whose members include BMW, Hyundai, Toyota and Volvo, the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association, whose members include Caterpillar, Ford, General Motors and Isuzu, and the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, whose members include Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Nissan, also attended the meeting.
According to a Navigant Research report released earlier this year, global annual unit sales for hybrid and electric trucks will rise from less than 10,000 in 2013 to more than 100,000 in 2020.
In a separate report, Navigant noted that the total number of natural gas trucks and buses on roads worldwide will grow from 1.5 million in 2014 to 3.7 million by 2022.
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