Australia to get Euro 6 ADR

Yesterday, (Oct 13) the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Catherine King MP, announced a new ADR 80/04 based on the Euro 6 (Stage C) requirements will be phased in for newly approved heavy vehicle models first supplied to Australia from November 1, 2024, and existing heavy vehicle models still being supplied to the Australian on or after November 1, 2025.

The new text of ADR 80/04 is being settled in consultation with those most directly affected by the change. As with ADR 80/03, vehicles meeting equivalent US or Japanese standards will also be accepted.

The Government is continuing to consider a pathway for the introduction of the Euro 6 standard for light vehicles.

The new ADR 80/04 will adopt the Stage C requirements. Further analysis after feedback was received in 2021 found Stage C would enable an earlier introduction and achieve a higher net benefit than the original option canvassed in 2020 (Stage D).

ADR 80/04 will accept vehicles meeting US emission requirements from 2013 onwards and vehicles meeting Japanese emission requirements from 2017 onwards.

The technology required to meet Euro 6 will increase the cost of supplying a new truck or bus to Australia by 3 to 5 per cent or $4000-$6000. Impacts on purchase prices will depend on exchange rates, supply chains and other changes made as part of a model update.

Euro 6 trucks are heavier than equivalent Euro 5 trucks due to the additional mass required by the additional emission systems. This may reduce the amount of freight they can legally carry.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and National Transport Commission are working with government and industry stakeholders to reforms to mass limits to ensure trucks with advanced safety and emissions do not risk a productivity penalty. These reforms are expected to be resolved before the new ADR becomes mandatory.

In February 2022, the Australian Government and state and territory governments agreed in principle to increase truck width limits from 2.5 metres to 2.55 metres for trucks fitted with advanced safety features. The Government says this his will help reduce development costs for meeting Euro 6 in Australia.

Australian based truck manufacturers and importers have been calling for the introduction of Euro 6 standards for years.

Euro 6 standards are already in place in the European Union and United Kingdom, and equivalent standards also apply in most developed countries, including the United States and Japan. China and India have also recently adopted equivalent standards.

Commenting on the introduction of Euro 6, the Minister said: “These tighter noxious emissions standards for new trucks and buses will reduce this significant pollutant in Australia, and help reduce the number of premature deaths and chronic illnesses as a result.

“These new standards will improve air quality and health outcomes and bring safer and more efficiency trucks into Australia.

“We are committed to continuing to work with industry and state and territory governments to ensure the smooth introduction of these standards.

“Australia has been lagging in our vehicle noxious emissions standards for years now, and this move will help bring our vehicle market into the 21st century – and into line with overseas vehicle markets,” she concluded.

HVIA Chief Executive Todd Hacking said the announcement will give certainty to the heavy vehicle industry at a time when the delivery time on new orders is stretching out as long as two years.

“This is a win for industry and a win for the entire Australian community," Mr Hacking said.

“Prior to this year’s Federal Election we said we want immediate steps to support the transition to low and zero emissions heavy vehicles and this move is a great step for the Government honouring those commitments.

“We thank Infrastructure Minister the Hon Catherine King MP and the Climate Change and Energy Minister the Hon Chris Bowen MP for their work that now gives our members and the broader industry the certainty they need to move forward.

“This is a vital step for Australia to keep pace with the rest of the world," Mr Hacking said.