Scope of application
Heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) that are registered in Switzerland for the first time are subject to the provisions on CO2 emissions in the CO2 Act. The provisions apply to lorries and articulated vehicles
- with an axle configuration of 4 x 2 and a total weight of more than 16 tonnes, or
- with an axle configuration of 6 x 2.
The provisions on CO2 emissions do not apply to:
- working vehicles
- military vehicles used for military purposes
- vehicles produced before July 2019.
For vehicles with multi-stage type-approval in accordance with Article 3(8) of Regulation (EU) 2018/858, the CO2 emission provisions are based on the condition as a base vehicle. The emission values are determined using the VECTO simulation tool. Each vehicle is assigned to one of nine sub-groups according to its technical characteristics.
Vehicles that were previously registered in Switzerland are not subject to these provisions.
Vehicles that were already registered abroad before their first registration in Switzerland fall within the scope of the provisions on CO2 emissions if less than six months have passed between the customs declaration in Switzerland and the first registration abroad. Vehicles that are cleared through customs in Switzerland between six and twelve months after their initial registration abroad fall within the scope of the provisions if their mileage at the time of customs clearance is less than 5,000km. If more than twelve months have passed between the vehicle's initial registration abroad and its customs clearance in Switzerland, the vehicle is considered second-hand and therefore does not fall within the scope of the provisions on CO2 emissions (Art. 17d para. 3 and Art. 4 CO2 Ordinance).
Targets
Importers are required to meet a specific CO2 emissions target for their new vehicle fleet (in the case of small-scale or private importers, the target applies to each individual vehicle). This target is calculated on the basis of the EU reference value, the percentage reduction target under the CO2 Act and the fleet shares of the VECTO sub-groups in the importer's fleet of new vehicles. If the CO2 emissions in grams per tonne-kilometre exceed the target, a penalty is due for each gram and each vehicle.
Vehicle assignments
An importer may agree with a large-scale importer that the latter will take over vehicles from them (called 'assignment' under Art. 22a para. 1 CO2 Ordinance). The assignment must be reported to the SFOE before the vehicle is placed on the market for the first time in Switzerland (Art. 22a para. 2 CO2 Ordinance). A vehicle can only be assigned to another importer once, and it is not possible to revoke the assignment (Art. 22a para. 3 CO2 Ordinance).
Assignments can only be notified via the DETEC eGovernment portal.
Procedure for small-scale importers
All importers must first register as (large-scale) importers on the DETEC eGovernment Portal.
If a vehicle has a type approval (TA) or an electronic certificate of conformity (eCoC), it can be registered directly at the driver and vehicle licensing office. If no TA or eCoC are available, the vehicle identification number (VIN) must be submitted to the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) via the DETEC eGovernment Portal. The SFOE will then issue a certificate. The vehicle can then be registered at the driver and vehicle licensing office with this document.
Any penalties imposed on the vehicle will be applicable after the end of the respective reference year.
