Morocco Delays Euro 6 Emissions Standards for Vehicles Amid Economic Pressures

Automotive professionals can rub their hands. The joint decision of Mohamed Abdeljalil, Minister of Transport and Logistics, and Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, on the obligation to comply with "Euro 6" standards for homologation and registration will be postponed by two years for vehicles in categories N1, N2, N3, M3 and M2. This measure comes "in the global context marked by geopolitical tensions, inflation, supply difficulties and fuel price instability, in addition to the costs resulting from the new standards that threaten the renewal of the land transport fleet," it is specified.

The postponement of the entry into force of the new standards will have an impact on the success of the fleet renewal programs launched by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, in particular the "Safe Autocar" program. The latter aims to encourage road transport professionals to acquire vehicles equipped with road safety enhancement devices, in order to improve road transport, since the acquisition cost of new vehicles will increase by 5 to 12% for all brands. The application of the decision will be postponed by 24 months for homologation operations, and by 36 months for registration operations, it is further indicated.

The joint ministerial order setting the conditions for the homologation of vehicles with regard to pollutant emissions, in accordance with the requirements of fuel engines, published in the Official Bulletin of December 2022, stipulates that the new standards will apply to each homologation process of motor vehicles from January 1, 2023 for vehicles in category M1, and from January 1, 2025 for vehicles in categories M2, M3, N1, N2 and N3. Regarding the registration of motor vehicles, it is specified that "it will not be possible to register any motor vehicle that does not comply with the provisions of the decision from January 1, 2024 for M1 vehicles, and from January 1, 2026 for vehicles in categories M2, M3, N1, N2 and N3".

The implementation of this decision has led to an increase in the prices of new vehicles in Morocco of 10 to 20% compared to the original price. Faced with this situation, the National Federation of Tourist Transport in Morocco had, in a letter, asked the ministers to postpone the application of the provisions of the decision for a sufficient period, with "the possibility for the tourism transport sector to benefit from a subsidy for the renewal of the fleet, like the other transport sectors, and to financially support the tourism transport sector to renew its fleet with vehicles meeting global environmental protection standards, and with electric or hybrid vehicles". His call has been heard.