EU starts clampdown on carbon emissions from vans

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The auto industry could be forced to improve fuel efficiency and cut carbon emissions from new vans sold in the European Union by 14 percent by 2016 or face fines, sources close to talks said on Wednesday.

The deadline would be four years later than first envisaged after powerful auto makers pushed hard for a delay until the EU's 27 member states have recovered from the economic crisis.

The EU executive, the European Commission, was fine-tuning the regulation early on Wednesday, and was expected to announce its proposal around noon (7:00 a.m. EDT). But preliminary numbers have already been prepared by Commission experts.

Average carbon emissions from each manufacturer's fleet would have to be cut to 175 grams between 2013 and 2016, compared to an EU average of 203 grams today, two sources familiar with the internal EU talks said.

By 2020, van makers would have to hit a target of 135 grams.

The launch of the proposal was delayed several times in recent weeks as officials in the Commission's industry and environment units wrangled over the details.

Europe's big auto-making nations -- France, Italy and Germany -- had pushed the commission for a delay to 2017.

Van makers that overshoot the targets face fines of 120 euros per gram of CO2 per vehicle, but those that miss by less than three grams will receive softer penalties, the sources added.

(Reporting by Pete Harrison, editing by Timothy Heritage)