Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority advises diesel owners to buy newer models

The German Federal Motor Transport Agency (KBA) has sent 1.5 million letters to owners of old diesel cars in heavily polluted regions, advising them to exchange the vehicles for newer diesel models, reports Christian Frahm on Spiegel Online in an article entitled “Motor Transport Agency Makes Publicity for Car Industry”. The letter states that purchasing a new model would contribute “effectively and significantly to a reduction of car emissions and to an improvement in the air quality of our cities,” and names BMW, Daimler and VW hotlines and internet addresses. The letter “further undermines the agency’s credibility. […] Providing information is one thing, advertising another”, Frahm writes. NGO Transport & Environment tweeted: “Beyond belief! [...] Is the KBA the new (M)ad Men of BMW, VW and Daimler?”

Read the article in German here.