driving. In Bergamo, the Experis academy of Manpower group launched a project together with Brembo, Dallara Automobili and ABB. They aim to create a hub focused on autonomous driving.
Heavy Duty Market
24,351 heavy duty vehicles were registered in 2017, a 21.4% increase compared to 2016. The Government incentives were confirmed for 2017, and extended for 2018.
Unfortunately, only 35% of the total amount of the current Italian trucks and buses fleet (1,429,273 vehicles) is post Euro 3 (hence belonging to emission categories Euro 4, 5 and 6). The older vehicles do not have the most recent safety technologies or the modern devices to reduce polluting emissions. There is therefore space for renewing the heavy duty circulating park, although this process is not expected to be completed soon. An easier move is represented by smaller technological solutions that can improve the performance and environment impact of such vehicles.
In Italy, companies like Smre develop kits to electrify heavy duty vehicles and buses. This market is widely growing. As a matter of facts, other companies such as CNH Industrial are developing a modular system: it is an engine able to switch from electric to gas to hydrogen. According to Ftp (Cnh engine division), hydrogen has an energetic power three times more efficient than diesel, thus representing the fuel of the future.
Specialty Equipment Market
In Italy, it is possible to customize certain parts of a vehicle, per the articles 75 and 78 of the Italian traffic code, a 2008 judgement of the European Court of Justice and a 2003 Italian Ministerial circular letter. Tuning involves modifications for what concerns the engine, the body of the car, the sound or the lightening system, interiors and more. In Italy, there are rules limiting the customization: in general, an examination of the changes needs to be done, to get a certification. The most frequent changes concerns spoilers, mufflers, LED lights, vehicle lowering, dark windows or adhesive films (an interesting market indeed.)
Used and Remanufactured Market
The market for used vehicles in Italy is significant: in fact, last year’s registrations of used cars reached 4,22 million.
Part of the used vehicles (especially the more powerful) can be (and are) retrofitted to LPG/CNG, to keep their operating costs affordable. In the last 15 years, LPG retrofitting reached more than 2 million units, whereas CNG retrofitting exceeded 400,000 units.
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