Australia To Implement Real-World Emissions Testing After VW’s Dieselgate

On the back of the ongoing Volkswagen diesel emissions saga, the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) has announced its intention to implement on-road emissions testing of new vehicles from early next year.

The key automotive body in Australia will soon launch an 18-month research project into emissions of Australian-delivered new cars. On the back of this research, the AAA will advise on new emissions testing regimes to be introduced by the federal government.

During discussions with Car Advice, AAA chief executive Michael Bradley said: “Action must be taken to test the emissions claims made by vehicle manufacturers and as the leading consumer advocate for almost eight million Australian motorists, the AAA is willing to step up to the plate.

“There is a debate emerging around the adequacy of Australia’s current vehicle emission standards, but this debate risks being rendered meaningless unless a more relevant testing regime is put in place. The Volkswagen scandal clearly shows that regulators across the globe now need to be assessing the emissions produced by vehicles in the real-world, not just those produced in a laboratory.”

Unsurprisingly, this announcement has sparked debates across the country. Most significantly, Europe has already announced that it will begin implementing real-world emissions testing after VW dieselgate with some commentators questioning the necessity and costs associated with a dedicated national testing regime.