German transport minister warns against phasing out diesel vehicles

BERLIN: German Transport Minister Volker Wissing is warning the European Commission against the decommissioning of millions of diesel-powered vehicles due to a potential new interpretation regarding compliance with emission limits.

Proceedings are currently ongoing at the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which could potentially impose stricter compliance with pollutant limits on some diesel-powered vehicles.

This change might require vehicles to meet emission standards even in extreme driving conditions, a demand Wissing argues is technologically unfeasible.

Wissing is calling for clarification in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which has been seen by dpa.

Wissing previously told the Bild newspaper that the European Commission must act quickly because he was "very worried."

The situation could affect about 8.2 million diesel vehicles in Germany alone.

A German automobile Club (ADAC) spokeswoman referred to the protection of the status quo and criticised the discussions about an impending decommissioning of vehicles as "inappropriate."

Christian Dürr, the leader of Germany's pro-business Free Democratic Party, of which Wissing is also a member, is urging the European Commission to clarify the regulations to prevent the removal of these vehicles from the roads.

"EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen continues to pursue a policy against car drivers. The future of the combustion engine is still unclear and now millions of diesel cars are threatened with being taken out of service because the procedures for measuring exhaust emissions are to change," he said.

Von der Leyen must now present a new regulation so that those affected have planning security, he added.

The German Association of the Automotive Industry have also called for urgent clarification to prevent consumer uncertainty and avoid retroactive application of new rules.