FAQ – CO2 emission regulations for light delivery and light articulated vehicles (collectively referred to as light commercial vehicles)

The carbon emission regulations apply to importers of new LCVs. A distinction is made here between small and large importers.

Large importers (six LCVs or more)

Companies that import at least six new vehicles a year that are registered for use in Switzerland for the first time are classed as large importers. If the average carbon emissions of a large importer’s LCV fleet exceed the importer's individual target, the importer must pay a penalty for each vehicle registered for the first time in the calendar year concerned.

Importers are classed as large importers in any given reference year if they:

• are registered with the Swiss Federal Office of Energy as a large importer or as an emissions pool, and
• registered at least six new LCVs in their fleet of new vehicles.

Small importers (fewer than six LCVs)

Importers that import fewer than six new vehicles a year that are registered in Switzerland for the first time are classed as small importers. This also includes persons who import their vehicle themselves from abroad and register it in Switzerland (private importers).

The carbon emission target value of vehicles imported by small importers is calculated separately for each vehicle. If the value is exceeded, the importer must pay the penalty owed before the vehicle is registered. A request for certification must be submitted to the SFOE (see FAQ: As a small importer, what do I have to do to register a vehicle?)