Germany will eventually ban new diesel cars, following in the footsteps of other countries in Europe including France and Britain. The news comes from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking with Super Illu magazine, reports Reuters.
Unlike France and Britain, which aim to get rid of new diesels by 2040, Germany hasn’t set a time frame for its transition. “I don’t want to name an exact year,” Merkel said, adding that Britain and France took “the right approach.”
The announcement comes just a few weeks after BMW, Daimler, and Volkswagen agreed to upgrade around 5 million diesel vehicles in Germany. The changes involve overhauling engine software to reduce pollution on diesel cars. The move is seen as a way for automakers to help prevent governments from issuing diesel bans in city centers. “Our goal is to improve diesel rather than ban it,” Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche told Bloomberg at the time. “As long as e-cars still have a small market share, optimizing diesel is the most effective lever to reach climate targets in road transport.”
The decision to phase out diesels must be a complicated one for Germany. The auto sector represents Germany’s biggest export market and contributes to about 800,000 jobs. Of course, Germany is also the home country of Volkswagen, which is trying to rebuild its reputation amid its massive diesel scandal. Focused on diesels, German automakers have generally lagged behind in offering electric vehicles, although that could change.
Merkel said that diesel cars will still be eligible for tax breaks for the immediate future since they emit less carbon dioxide than gas engines. In the coming years, Germany should focus on bolstering EV infrastructure as these green vehicles become more popular, Merkel added.
Source: Reuters
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