OEMs bring AdBlue Suppliers On Board at Dealerships

All of Europe's leading truck OEMs will be selling at least one SCR truck model by the time Euro 4 emissions limits come into force. Keen to ensure that customers will have no difficulty finding AdBlue for their brand new trucks, several of the OEMs have contracted AdBlue suppliers to set up permanent filling points at their truck dealerships and service points.

As the first manufacturer to launch a Euro 5 truck, DaimlerChrysler has been predictably swift to allay any concerns over AdBlue availability. Customers taking possession of their new Mercedes BlueTec Actros models will find AdBlue at dealerships. This will be supplied by Dureal in Germany where 51 sites are already operational. DaimlerChrysler's policy outside Germany is not yet clear.

Volvo will not be delivering any SCR trucks to customers until 1H 2006. The manufacturer has signed a deal with Yara for the supply of Air1 AdBlue. Through the agreement Volvo will offer delivery of Air1 AdBlue and all filling and storage equipment through Volvo's dealer network in Europe.

Yara has also recently announced a three-year supply and service link-up with Iveco, under which Yara will deliver urea solution directly to Iveco's five truck production sites in Europe and to Iveco's Irisbus plants. The agreement also covers the delivery of AdBlue in packaging to the after-sales market in Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, UK, Germany, Austria, Benelux, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro, Croatia, Russia and Ukraine.

Dutch manuacturer DAF is being more circumspect in its approach. "We have no exclusivity in any direction for the supply of AdBlue," the company told Vent. Individual dealerships can choose their own supplier, although a full tank of AdBlue will be part of the delivery package to customers, and AdBlue in 10 litre cans will be available at all DAF dealers until a wider infrastructure is available.

Renault has not finalised any contracts with AdBlue suppliers but has announced that, from 2006, urea solution will be available at 1180 Renault service points in Europe. The solution will be marketed by Renault Trucks Oils and is likely the AdBlue will be supplied by Total from its Grande Paroisse subsidiary.