Market: Fewer fines for importers
EMISSIONS The rapid progress in the electrification of new cars and vans has led to a sharp decline in Swiss CO2 penalties for vehicle importers. The penalty amounts fell by almost 80 percent.
According to the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE), the penalties levied for passenger cars in 2021 amounted to CHF 28.1 million, compared to CHF 132.1 million in 2020. At CHF 9.4 million, the penalties for new light commercial vehicles were also significantly lower than in the previous year.
The sharp decline demonstrates the successes that the members of the Swiss Automobile Importers Association are celebrating with their efforts to reduce emissions. With a market share of 22.5 percent, almost one in four new passenger cars was a plug-in vehicle in 2021.
Target value for passenger cars undercut
Since the changeover to the more realistic WLTP measurement procedure for new vehicles, the CO2 target values in Switzerland have been adjusted accordingly to an average of 118 grams per kilometer (cars) and 186 grams per kilometer for light commercial vehicles.
As Auto-Schweiz explained in February of this year based on its own calculations, its members met the target value with their weighted average CO2 value for new passenger cars in 2021.
Auto Schweiz President Albert Rösti: "The SFOE's figures even show that the CO2 target was exceeded by around 1.5 grams per kilometer."
Poor preparation for development
Further market growth for electric vehicles is foreseeable in view of the manufacturers' announcements. However, according to Albert Rösti, Switzerland is currently ill-prepared for this development.
Albert Rösti: "We have major hurdles in setting up the charging infrastructure, both in public and private spaces. I have therefore already asked the Federal Council in a parliamentary motion how it intends to solve the charging infrastructure problem."
Ensuring sufficient production and reliable distribution of low-CO2 electricity is also of fundamental importance for the electrification of road transport, emphasizes Alber Rösti.
