On 19 December 2019, the manufacturers Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA, Opel Automobile GmbH-PSA, FCA Italy S.p.A., Automobiles Citroën, Automobiles Peugeot, PSA Automobiles SA, Audi AG, Ford-Werke GmbH, Jaguar Land Rover Ltd., Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center GmbH, Škoda Auto a.s., BMW AG, Renault SA, Honda Motor Europe Ltd, Volkswagen AG and Volkswagen AG Nutzfahrzeuge submitted a joint application (‘the application’) in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2019/631 for the approval of efficient vehicle exterior lighting using light emitting diodes (‘efficient exterior LED light’) as an innovative technology for reducing CO₂ emissions from internal combustion engine powered light commercial vehicles capable of running on petrol, diesel and certain alternative fuels.

On 20 February 2020, Renault SA, on behalf of the applicants, submitted an additional application concerning the use of the technology in certain not-off vehicle charging hybrid electric vehicles (‘NOVC-HEV’) of category N₁. Considering that the additional application refers to the same innovative technology and that the same conditions apply for its use in the vehicle categories concerned, it is appropriate to address both the application and the additional application in one decision.

Based on the experience gained from the past approval Implementing Decisions as well as on the reports and information provided with the application, it has been satisfactorily and conclusively demonstrated that an efficient exterior LED light or appropriate combinations thereof meet the eligibility criteria referred to in Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2019/631 and Implementing Regulation (EU) No 427/2014 and provide a reduction in CO₂ emissions of at least 0,5 g CO₂/km as compared to the same set of baseline exterior lights.

In addition to the exterior vehicle lighting for which the use of efficient LED lights has already been approved as an innovative technology in the past approval Implementing Decisions, the application also refers to end-outline marker and side marker lights. As those lights are not turned on during the measurements performed as part of the WLTP test, it is also appropriate to approve the use of efficient exterior LED lights in those lights.

The application sets out a methodology for determining the CO₂ savings from the use of efficient exterior LED lights in a range of vehicle lights for use in light commercial vehicles powered by internal combustion engines as well as in certain NOVC-HEVs of category N₁ that are capable of running on petrol, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG) or E85.

In view of the limited availability of E85 on the Union market as a whole, it is not considered justified to distinguish this fuel from petrol for the purpose of the testing methodology.

The applicants have provided studies supporting that the usage patterns of light commercial vehicles and of passenger cars, with regard to the use of exterior vehicle lighting, are sufficiently similar to allow the methodology set out in Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1119 to be applied also for light commercial vehicles.

With regard to the cornering lamps and static bending lamps, the applicants have, however, proposed to include specific usage factors that are different from those included in the methodology set out in Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1119. The usage factors proposed by the applicants for those lights can be considered more conservative than those set out in Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1119 and it is therefore considered appropriate to include those new usage factors in the testing methodology in this Decision. Moreover, end-outline marker lights and side marker lights were not covered in Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1119 and usage factors and power consumption values for those lights should therefore be added.

Taking into account those additions, the testing methodology set out in Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1119 should be considered appropriate for determining the CO₂ savings from the use of the innovative technology in light commercial vehicles.

The efficient exterior LED lights should be used in internal combustion engine powered light commercial vehicles, or in NOVC-HEVs of category N₁ for which uncorrected measured fuel consumption and CO₂ emission values may be used in accordance with paragraph 1.1.4 of Appendix 2 to Sub-annex 8 to Annex XXI to Regulation (EU) 2017/1151.

Manufacturers should have the possibility to apply to a type-approval authority for the certification of CO₂ savings from the use of efficient exterior LED lights where the conditions laid down in this Decision are met. Manufacturers should for that purpose ensure that the application for certification is accompanied by a verification report from an independent and certified body confirming that the innovative technology complies with the conditions laid down in this Decision and that the savings have been determined in accordance with the testing methodology set out in the Annex to this Decision.

In order to facilitate a wider deployment of the innovative technology in new vehicles, a manufacturer should also have the possibility to submit a single application for the certification of the CO₂ savings from several efficient exterior LED lights. It is, however, appropriate to ensure that where this possibility is used a mechanism is applied that incentivises the deployment of only those efficient exterior LED lights that offer the highest efficiency.

It is the responsibility of the type-approval authority to verify thoroughly that the conditions for certifying the CO₂ savings from the use of an innovative technology as specified in this Decision are met. Where the certification is granted, the responsible type-approval authority should ensure that all elements considered for the certification are recorded in a test report and kept together with the verification report and that this information is made available to the Commission on request.

From 2021, manufacturers’ compliance with their specific CO₂ emission targets is to be established on the basis of the CO₂ emissions determined in accordance with the WLTP. CO₂ savings from the innovative technology certified by reference to this Decision may therefore be taken into account for the calculation of manufacturers’ average specific CO₂ emissions starting from that year,