Phase-out of the combustion technology needs to be “initiated in the short term” - CDU MP

British plans to ban the combustion engine in new cars by 2040 make it clear that a change in propulsion systems was needed, Christian Democratic transport politician and former state transport minister of North Rhine-Westphalia Oliver Wittke told Deutschlandfunk in an interview. “It is unacceptable that an important European country gives the central impulse, as it leaves the European Union, while the automobile country as such lags behind. Of course, we must reach such an agreement [to ban the sale of diesel and petrol cars], if possible in coordination with our European partners. If 2040 as a date is adequate, we will have to debate,” said Wittke.

Read the interview in German here.

For background, read the CLEW factsheet The debate over an end to combustion engines in Germany and the CLEW article Reactions to allegations over German carmaker cartel.