“German transport minister refuses to shoulder blame for Dieselgate”

The German government bears no responsibility for the diesel emissions scandal, according to federal transport minister Alexander Dobrindt, writes Samuel Morgan for EurActiv. “Volkswagen cheated, so Volkswagen is responsible,” Dobrindt said at a hearing of a European Parliament (EP) committee of inquiry. Because tests that could have detected the manipulation had not been legally required, they were not carried out, the transport minister argued. Members of the EP criticised his stance. “Minister Dobrindt is trying to avoid responsibility. The German authorities allowed emission limits to be exceeded for years,” said German Green politician Rebecca Harms.

Read the article in English here.

For background read the CLEW dossier The Energiewende and German carmakers.