Dealers are in a state of confusion about the soon to be introduced Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), according to new research by Manheim.

Results from the Manheim’s latest dealer sentiment survey have revealed that just weeks before the 1st September implementation, over a third of dealers (35%) are not aware of when WLTP comes in to force.

A further two thirds (61%) of dealers are not up-to-speed with the timetable for the roll out and are unclear on what the new testing means for new cars after the deadline.

In a wake-up call for the market, just under half of dealers polled (47%) believe the new 
procedure is creating supply shortages whilst the other half are experiencing little or no 
impact.

As the implementation of WLTP looms on the horizon, the survey also revealed that almost nine in 10 dealers (86%) believe there will be tactical registrations taking place to register WLTP impacted vehicles ahead of the 1 September deadline.

Manheim’s Philip Nothard said: “The response to these questions is startling. With less than six weeks to go until the implementation of WLTP, that a third of dealers say they unaware of WLTP should be of grave concern to the government and manufacturers. 

“In addition, almost two-thirds report being unaware of any timetable, a similar number are unclear about what it actually means to new car sales and just over half saying they’re not getting clarity from the brands they represent. 

“There’s been much talk in the sector about confusion and low awareness levels and these responses suggest this is more than idle speculation. “
 
Phillip adds that while it comes as no surprise that 9 in every 10 dealers believe there will be tactical registrations ahead of the new testing regime coming into force, this will serve to create a significant spike in August registration figures.

This potentially record-breaking number of registrations is likely to impact on residual values for certain variants further down the line, although this may be countered by a pause in new car production while manufacturers implement technical improvements. 

In fact, half of the dealers responding to the survey say they’re already experiencing a shortage of new stock. 

The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure or (WLTP) is a new protocol to measure vehicles’ fuel consumption, CO2 and pollutant emissions. The procedure was developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) to replace the current New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), which has been in use since the 1990s.

One of its key objectives is to better align laboratory test results with realistic vehicle usage, based on current engine technologies. WLTP also aims to harmonise test procedures on a global level, in order to create an equal playing field in the market.