Transport ministry and carmakers found institute for “realistic” exhaust emissions test

Germany’s transport ministry (BMVI) and the country’s carmakers have agreed to form a joint institute to ensure more “transparent” and “realistic” exhaust emissions tests, the BMVI has said in a press release. The institute, dubbed DIVEM (German Institute for Consumption and Emissions Measuring) will also involve consumer protection organisations, municipalities and NGOs, and will make its “real traffic” results available to the public on an online platform.
The transport ministry, together with Germany’s environment ministry (BMUB), will also set up a “National Diesel Forum” to “bundle” the debate on how NOx emissions of diesel cars can be reduced while guaranteeing diesel car owners mobility, according to transport minister Alexander Dobrindt. “The national forum allows carmakers to make good on lost trust,” environment minister Barbara Hendricks said in another BMVI press release, adding: “I hope they will seize this opportunity.”

See the press release on the joint institute in German here and on the national forum in German here.

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