German car industry, NGOs trade blows over European Parliament’s car fleet emissions proposal

The proposal by the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment to tighten emissions limits for new vehicles has triggered a lively debate in Germany. The country’s car industry association VDA called the proposal “highly alarming” and “unworkable,” arguing that it “ignored technical and economic realities” and would lead to the “loss of many jobs in Europe.” Environmental Action Germany (DUH) countered that carmakers’ internal plans envisaged that electric vehicles will have a share of 30 to 50 percent of new car sales by 2030 anyway.
The EP committee voted for reducing the average CO₂ emissions of new vehicles by 45 percent by 2030 – a target significantly higher than the 30 percent reduction proposed by the European Commission. The German government has not yet agreed on a common position on new fleet emission limits. The German environment ministry (BMU) had proposed a reduction of 50 percent, but faces resistance from the economic affairs and transport ministries.
The German car industry is concerned that the EU might take a decision on the matter without a strong voice from Germany, reports Silke Wettach in the Wirtschaftswoche. “The industry is in upheaval – even though it knew that Chancellor [Angela] Merkel will no longer step into the breach like in the past” because of the diesel scandal, writes Wettach.

Read the VDA press release in German here.

Find the Wirtschaftswoche article in German here.

Find plenty of background in the news piece German government struggles to find common position on new EU climate targets for cars, the article German environment ministry pushes for tougher EU car emission rules, and the dossier BMW, Daimler and VW vow to fight in green transport revolution.