The Netherlands
Vereniging Smeerolieondernemingen Nederland Dutch Lubricants Association
Local report
Two years ago, the Vereniging Smeerolieondernemingen Nederland (VSN) – the Dutch Lubricants Association, which represents the oil industry in the Netherlands – provided a Local Report for Lube Magazine detailing the important work it does on behalf of both the majors, and privately and publically owned oil companies, not only in the Netherlands but across the globe.
Since then the situation of the VSN and the oil industry in the Netherlands has remained very stable and fairly unchanged. The VSN still operates from the same headquarters and continues to give advice and defend the interests and issues of its 60 oil industry member companies. However there have been several developments of particular interest to the lubricants industry.
UEIL ATI
One of the initiatives the VSN is heavily involved with is the coalition between UEIL and AFCAR (the Alliance for the Freedom of Car Repair in the EU, which is made up of AIRC, CECRA, EGEA, FIA and FIGIEFA) with the intention of ensuring universal Access to Automotive Technical Information as per EU legislation set down in 2007, which requires (as is quoted on the UEIL Website) that: “Vehicle Manufacturers shall provide unrestricted and standardized access to vehicle repair and maintenance information”1
.
The provision of technical information by OEMs is extremely important for independent operators, as it allows them to remain competitive with the OEMs and larger, international services. This is of particular concern in a market such as the Netherlands, where there are a great many such smaller, independent vehicle maintenance services in operation.
Subsidies for electric vehicles Currently in the Netherlands there is much pressure on promoting electric cars in the form of government subsidies. If a person uses a petrol or diesel driven company car for both their business and personal transport this incurs a tax of 20% to 25% of the value of the vehicle. However, this tax does not apply to electric cars, giving drivers a monetary incentive to adopt environmental practices.
In 2014, the Netherlands were recorded as having the lowest volume of CO2 emissions in Europe. Though Norway surpassed the Netherlands in this regard in 2015, the use of hybrid and electric vehicles in the Netherlands has risen from 7.8% to 12% of the market2
since 2014.
Self-driving cars There is also a strong wish to develop self-driving cars by the EU, with the Dutch government already legislating for the road testing of such vehicles on a large scale, with a fleet of 20 already being given trial runs on the motorway.
Contact: VSN -Vereniging Smeerolieondernemingen Nederland Office address
Bezuidenhoudseweg 12
Postal address Postbus 93002
NL-2594 AV DEN HAAG NL-2509 AA DEN HAAG Telephone: +31 703490752 E-mail:
vsn@nvg.nl Internet:
www.smeerolievereniging.nl
LINK
www.smeerolievereniging.nl
1
UEIL Website, News, EU Policies,
http://www.ueil.org/en/NEWS/EU-policies/, Date accessed: 3/3/16
2Average new car CO2 emissions fall by 3.2% across Europe,
Fleet News, 1/3/16,
http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/manufacturer-news/2016/03/01/ average-new-car-co2-emissions-fall-by-32-across-europe, Date accessed: 3/3/16
Whilst there is still debate surrounding the safety and potential hazards of this technology, the significant investment made by OEMs nevertheless proves to be an advantage to the lubricants industry.
has demonstrated this commitment and is confident that this cooperation with UEIL will continue into the future.
VSN in cooperation with Europe In the last VSN local report for Lube Magazine the VSN expressed commitment to continuous cooperation with UEIL and other European Lubricants Associations. In supporting initiatives such as UEIL/AFCAR and playing a part in helping Europe come closer to attaining its goals of reduced CO2
emissions the VSN
LUBE MAGAZINE NO.132 APRIL 2016
59
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