Danger for BMW, Mercedes and VW? Country heads appeal to the highest authority
The Euro 7 emissions standard isn’t a done deal yet, but there’s already a lot of excitement. Now it’s not just the bosses of the manufacturers who are up in arms. Three German Prime Ministers are also appealing to the Chancellor that things must not go that far.
VW, BMW and Mercedes: Prime Ministers are ready to oppose emission standards
The plans for the next stage of the European emissions standard are not exactly met with enthusiasm in German politics: the prime ministers of Bavaria, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Lower Saxony have together in an open letter against Euro 7 in its current version. With the letter, Markus Söder (CSU), Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) and Stephan Weil (SPD) want to persuade Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Germany does not agree to the current version.
It is not surprising that these three in particular have a problem with the emissions standard. BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen belong to the economic backbone of their respective federal states. The letter says, for example: “It seems rather questionable to us whether a further tightening of standards due to other diffuse emission sources will lead to a further significant improvement in air quality” (source: dpa via Mirror). It’s worded carefully, yes Basically it means: why do we still need Euro 7?
“A new emission standard and the associated test conditions must also be technically and economically feasible,” Weil, Söder and Kretschmann continue to criticize. An accusation that has already been made by several car manufacturers. Recently, Renault boss Luca de Meo warned rising costs due to Euro 7. VW’s brand boss Thomas Schäfer even expects an increase of up to 5,000 euros in the purchase prices for combustion engines that meet the new regulations. The prime ministers take exactly the same line.
E-cars under pressure: Euro 7 could block the way for electric vehicles
They also argue with the auto industry that the forced investment in new combustion technology standing in the way of electrification. Money and development effort that would have been spent on the last generations of combustion engines would not be available for new electric drives. Ultimately, European manufacturers would be damaged in their competitiveness and Jobs could be at risk at least that is the reasoning of the prime ministers. The Minister of Transport fears the same thing.
A lot will change for e-car customers as early as 2023:
Whether this will happen is by no means certain: the draft for Euro 7 still has to be approved by the European Parliament and the member states. Until then, many points should still be negotiated. The new Emissions standard is scheduled to come into force in 2025.
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