But the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is keen to encourage emission cutting moves from the European Commission, who put forward the proposal, to be realistic with its suggestions.

Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive, said: "Vans are an integral part of the European economy and at a time of economic downturn and belt-tightening, businesses do not have the capacity to invest in new products."

It is the intention of the Commission to set a target averaging at 175g CO2/km for van manufacturers to be the standard by 2016, but the van industry states that this target does not give it sufficient time to adjust to the new requirements.

Mr Everitt added that a reasonable amount time is needed to make such moves affordable to companies, especially in the current economic climate.

The light commercial and van industries currently work to a production timescale of seven years.

Approximately three million engines and 1.7 million commercial vehicles and cars are manufactured in the UK each year.

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