European Union Endangers Millions of Diesel Cars

It’s not just 2035 that undermines the future of combustion engine car. In fact, in a proceeding currently underway at the European Court of Justice, the European Commission has changed its legal opinion on the compared to car emissions for older models. Bottom line: The limits must be respected in every driving situation, even when fully loaded. Previously, this only applied under standardized and comparable test conditions.

A change that could mean the farewell to all diesel cars approved Euro 5 and even some Euro 6. We are talking about millions and millions of units throughout Europe, 8.2 in Germany alone.

The problem

The German Transport Minister raised the issue Volker Wissing in an open letter sent to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Wissing called for “an end to Brussels’ anti-car policy. People need their cars and do not want them taken away. The EU Commission must act quickly.”

At the basis of all this are the emission measurement procedures of exhaust gas. Going into specifics until 2017 the NEDC homologation cycle measured in approved laboratories whether polluting emissions were compliant with the limit values. A system that later gave way to the RDE, closer to real driving values, with tests on public roads. The fact is that the old Euro 5 and Euro 6 diesels have been validated according to the NEDC cycle. According to what Wissing highlighted, if the European Commission’s procedure were to be successful, it would have retroactive effect. Result: goodbye to millions and millions of cars.

The solution

In the letter, Wissing urges von der Leyen to quickly amend the regulations, which she considers “questionable”, by clarifying them before the European Court of Justice (ECJ) decision, expected in November. The aim is to “avoid serious consequences for the millions of citizens affected and for the European economy”.

According to Wissing, the consequences of the decision “would not only affect the automotive industry, but above all the citizens who have purchased and operated such vehicles in reliance on existing regulations. All Euro 5 approvals would be called into question.”

“The European Commission and its President seem determined to conduct a real campaign against the car and individual mobility” continues the German minister.

It should be noted, however, that ADAC (the German Automobile Club) has defined Wissing’s statements as “inappropriate”, underlining that “According to our lawyers, changes to the measurement procedure for the approval of a vehicle at a later date cannot be applied retroactively“. No danger for owners of Euro 5 cars therefore.

We must therefore wait for the European Commission clarify, by responding to the German minister’s letter or by publishing a press release to remove any doubts about the possibility of phasing out Euro 5 diesel cars. And not only that.