“Diesel: Not again a planned economy”

Software updates for diesel cars, decided at the diesel summit in Berlin, are unlikely to reduce emissions enough and prevent driving bans, writes Christian Lindner, head of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) in a guest commentary in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Planned economy measures such as e-car quotas would also be the wrong approach as they are expensive and inhibit progress. “We have to support researchers and carmakers in developing the mobility of tomorrow in a technology-open way,” writes Lindner. Expectations for the industry were justifiably high. “At the same time we should give all those that build the future the chance to do just that,” writes Lindner.

For more on the summit’s outcome, read the CLEW articles German carmakers pledge diesel software updates and buyer’s bonus and "Win for car industry" - First reactions to German diesel summit.