Two and half years since Dieselgate first broke, car makers are finally facing serious trouble. Germany’s highest administrative court has paved the way for state and municipal governments to introduce bans on diesel vehicles without the need for permission from the central government.
What is so surprising is that, when any ban is put in place, it will immediately drive Euro 5 diesel-engined cars off city roads, followed by Euro 6 vehicles in September 2019. The ruling states that vehicles can be banned from certain areas once the engine pollution regulation is six years old. The Euro 5 rating was launched in 2010.
Volkswagen boss: German city diesel ban is 'scary and unnecessary'
Environmental pressure groups have been pressing both Düsseldorf and Stuttgart to take more drastic measures to clean up their air. These two cities - like more than 70 others in Germany - regularly breach European Union regulations for air pollution.
Stuttgart was a high-profile target because of its association with Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, and, as German newspaper Handelsblatt pointed out, both the local minister of state and mayor of the city are members of the Greens.
This mix of Germany’s motor city and Green politicians was a gift to activists, who must feel they have hit the bull's-eye with this ruling. It now seems likely that city-centre bans will be adopted across the country.
The only small concession from the ruling, says Handelsblatt, was that any bans have to be reasonable in economic terms and could lead to exceptions for workmen.
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Goodbye stench
Not just Germany....
The whole of Europe are Diesel daft, just about any European country you go to there are more Diesel than Petrol Cars, I dare say Diesel is King in most parts of the a World, getting the World of Diesel needs to start now!, unless they can clean up Nox better Petrol and EV Cars are they way to go and ultimately get rid of Petrol too!, but this’ll take decades there are millions of Cars to scrap, what incentives will be given?, how will Government fund this?, tip of a very large Iceberg my friends.
There won't be any icebergs left
I can see a lot of older
I can see a lot of older German diesels being sold to neighbouring countries, there will be plenty of people there willing to snap up these bargain vehicles.
By switching to diesels, people could afford to run larger and larger vehicles. Maybe with everyone back with less efficient petrol vehicles, people will downsize away from large SUVs...
What happens in Germany...
...politically, I mean, is horrendous. Merkel & Co. are running this country to the ground. I am reading German newspapers (Welt primarily, because it is less PC) and forums and it's just horrible what is happening with that country. Sad.