Automakers warned that new emissions testing procedures in the European Union will impact their production and profits.
BMW said it will temporarily stop production of some models starting in May because of modifications required so their vehicles comply with RDE on-road emissions tests.
Last week, Volkswagen Group warned of potential bottlenecks as it seeks to get vehicles through the Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) laboratory-based testing.
BMW said the tests will interrupt production of models including various versions of the 7 series, the X1, X2, X5 and X6. Production will be temporarily interrupted starting in late May, a BMW spokesman told Automobilwoche, a sister publication of Automotive News Europe. "Depending on the version of the model and its volume, the interruption could last between a couple of weeks and a few months."
Volkswagen finance chief Arno Antlitz said earlier this month that the automaker faced "heavy financial demands" due to bottlenecks expected from introducing WLTP tests, which are related to emissions and fuel consumption.
Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn warned that WLTP will impact the automaker from September this year to April 2019. "We have a lot of uncertainties. We don't know how quickly the type approvals will be given. We don't know if customers will be willing to pay the new prices because we need to add technologies," Ghosn said at Renault's 2017 financial results conference on Feb. 16.
Tougher tests
WLTP is replacing the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) tests to measure exhaust emissions. The phase-in period required new-type vehicles introduced from last September to undergo WLTP testing. Starting this September, all new passenger vehicles sold in the EU must pass the test before they can be sold.
The RDE (real-driving emissions) test is a new procedure that measures pollutant emissions on the road. It will ensure that levels of fine particulates and nitrogen oxides measured during the WLTP laboratory testing are also met in normal operation on the road.
Peter Sigal in Paris and Reuters contributed to this report
