Since September 2015, all new cars sold in Europe cannot be driven without AdBlue®. Sales of diesel-powered commercial vehicles increased in the EU, accounting for 95.8% of the market (96.5% in 2020), according to the European manufacturers' association AECA.

Most people may not be familiar with the importance of AdBlue®, the fluid used in diesel vehicles to remove nitrogen oxides from the exhaust. However, it may soon grab more headlines, as AdBlue® shortages could bring the supply chain to a standstill, triggering an unwanted butterfly effect.

AdBlue® can be applied to all freight and passenger vehicles with SCR technology. Leading freight vehicle manufacturers MAN, Scania, Mercedes-Benz, Iveco, Volvo, Renault and DAF have already decided to use this technology.Essentially, AdBlue® is an additive that reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, reducing pollution and helping drivers meet increasingly stringent emissions regulations. It does this by combining exhaust emissions to break down nitrogen oxides into non-toxic nitrogen and water.