Intense lobbying by German carmakers waters down new EU car fleet emission limits
A concerted lobbying effort by German carmakers was crucial in watering down new EU car fleet emission targets for the period after 2021, reports Süddeutsche Zeitung. “It seems a call from Germany’s chief car lobbyist, [car industry association VDA head] Matthias Wissmann, to [EU commission President] Jean-Claude Juncker’s cabinet chief Martin Selmayr, was crowned by success. Selmayr denies a connection. German EU commissioner Günther Oettinger has also acted in the interest of the car industry, says the article. “As if Dieselgate had never happened, Volkswagen in particular led a campaign against stricter environmental laws.” According to a , the EU commission will propose today CO2 reduction targets for new cars of 30 percent by 2030 compared to 2021.
Read the SZ article in German .
Find plenty of background in the 91tv dossier The Energiewende and German carmakers.
Please note: The 91tv will publish an article on this topic later today.