Merkel urges German carmakers to regain lost credibility and trust at IAA opening

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on the German car industry to do all that is necessary to regain the credibility and trust lost during the emissions scandal. In her opening speech at the Frankfurt car show (IAA), Merkel said carmakers had “excessively exploited loopholes” in regulations. She said the continued success of the sector was not only key for the companies themselves, but also for their employees and the German economy as a whole. With reference to the Paris climate targets, Merkel said: “We have to manage the transition to zero-emission mobility.”

The head of the German car industry association VDA, Matthias Wissmann argued EU nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) limits were too strict when compared to levels allowed at workplaces, and the rules established by the US Environmental Protection Agency. “If we had the EPA’s limits, we wouldn’t have problems at any measuring point” in Germany, Wissmann said.

See the CLEW article Frankfurt car show puts spotlight on German carmakers’ troubles and the factsheet “Dieselgate” – a timeline of Germany’s car emissions fraud scandal for background.