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

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

Large importers (at least six LCVs)

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 their 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:

• have registered at least six new LCVs in the calendar year prior to the reference year, and
• are registered with the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) as a large importer or as an emissions pool.

Private/small importers

Importers that are not registered with the SFOE as a large importer or which account for fewer than six new vehicles a year from their fleet of new vehicles are classed as small importers. This includes private individuals who import their new vehicle themselves and register it for use in Switzerland (private importers).

For small importers, the carbon emission target value is calculated separately for each vehicle. For small importers, the carbon emission target value is calculated separately for each vehicle. A request for certification must be submitted to the SFOE (see FAQ: What are the requirements for small importers to be able to authorise a vehicle for circulation?)