Scope of application
In accordance with the CO2 Act, carbon emission regulations for passenger cars apply to all cars that are registered in Switzerland for the first time. Vehicles that were previously registered in Switzerland are not subject to these provisions. Vehicles that were already registered abroad prior to their first registration in Switzerland fall within the scope of the carbon emission regulations if at the time of the customs declaration in Switzerland no more than twelve months have passed since the vehicle was first registered abroad. Vehicles declared to customs in Switzerland less than six months after their first registration abroad are always subject to the carbon emission regulations. Vehicles declared to customs between six and twelve months after their first registration abroad are divided into two categories depending on the total kilometres travelled at the time of the customs declaration. These vehicles are subject to the regulations if the distance travelled at the time of the customs declaration (or, if not recorded at the time of customs declaration, at the time of initial registration in Switzerland) is less than 5,000 kilometres. If the distance travelled is more than 5,000km at the time of the customs declaration or if more than twelve months have elapsed between initial registration abroad and the customs declaration in Switzerland, the vehicle is considered a second-hand vehicle and is not subject to the carbon emission regulations (Art. 17d paras 3 and 4 CO2 Ordinance). Further exceptions in relation to passenger cars are explained in the FAQs.
Target
Importers are required to meet a specific CO2 emissions target for their new vehicle fleet (in the case of small or private importers, the target applies to each individual vehicle). This target is calculated on the basis of the average target value, taking into account the unladen weight of the vehicle (see FAQs). If the carbon emissions per kilometre exceed this target, a penalty is levied per excess gram and vehicle.
Vehicle assignments
An importer may agree with a large importer that the latter will take over vehicles from them (called ‘assignment’ under Art. 22a para. 1 CO2 Ordinance). The assignment must be notified 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 must be notified to the SFOE via the DETEC eGovernment portal service. In a few exceptional cases, assignments should be notified to the SFOE using a form (see ‘Assignment procedures’).
Further information on assignments: Assignment procedures
Procedure for small importers
The first step is to enter the vehicle data in the FEDRO KDI portal: Vehicle import. Provided the vehicle falls under the scope of CO2 emission regulations, small importers must then submit an application for vehicle attestation on the DETEC eGovernment portal. Alternatively, small importer can assign their vehicles to a large importer (further information can be found under ‘Assignment procedures’). They must pay any penalty due before the vehicle is initially registered in Switzerland.
