The report comes as EU antitrust regulators are investigating some of Europe`s biggest truckmakers for price fixing and coordinating the introduction of new emissions technologies, according to a copy of the statement of objections seen by Reuters.
The truck manufacturers accused of operating a cartel, Daimler, Volvo, Iveco, Volkswagen-controlled Scania , MAN and DAF, could face fines of up to 10 percent of their annual revenue if found guilty.
The study by the ICCT, the same group that uncovered German carmaker Volkswagen`s manipulation of diesel nitrogen oxide emission tests, found that the share of CO2 emissions from trucks was growing in the EU.
In contrast, the United States in June proposed tighter standards on truck emissions which the researches estimated could lead to a 33 percent reduction of fuel consumption rates from 2010 levels.
In addition sales trends showed that more heavier and larger vehicles were being sold in the EU, similar to those on the U.S. market.
The study goes on to recommend setting fuel efficiency standards or CO2 limits for heavy duty vehicles to bring down emissions. The EU has introduced a limit of 95 grams of CO2 per kilometre (g/km) by 2021 for cars and vans but has so far not done the same for trucks, although several countries have called for it.
"Truckmakers claim we can trust them to deliver more efficient trucks," said William Todts, freight manager at campaign group Transport & Environment.
"The reality is that for the last decade they`ve made virtually no progress in fuel efficiency while for much of that time they are alleged to have operated a cartel. It`s high time we shift gears and introduce U.S.-style fuel economy standards," he said.
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