The BVRLA is expecting light commercial vehicles to be taxed by emissions before 2017, although it has expressed concerns about the way any system could be introduced.
“We’re anticipating CO2-based van taxation will come through. My view is three to five years, but it should be anticipated that it’s going to happen,” BVRLA chief executive John Lewis told BusinessCar.
“Their [Government’s] problem is that they don’t understand it. It’s not about the lowest CO2 van for a job, it’s about the lowest CO2 van that will do the job. Then it’s about how you charge people and if they’re being punished for having to carry larger loads.”
Lewis said the van market has been largely left alone because the number of vehicles is so much smaller and that the Government is also aware of the importance of the LCV market.
“They recognise that if you wreck the van market you wreck that side of the economy with home shopping and a lot of people are moving down to 3.5t – they were carrying bulk rather than weight and have revised how they work.”
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