New emissions standards being proposed by the European Commission to limit the amount of carbon-dioxide levels emitted by cars manufactured in Europe will hurt German carmakers more severely than their French and Italian counterparts. That’s the warning given by Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking at the sports carmaker's annual meeting on Friday. Wiedeking went on to describe the limits as a war-like assault, adding "it is an attack on BMW, Mercedes, Audi and ourselves, this is a business war in Europe. We will fight."
The European Commission is committed to reducing vehicle emissions levels to 120g/km by 2012. Germany builds mostly large luxury and performance vehicles, which typically emit significantly more carbon-dioxide levels than the small efficient-hatches that come out of France and Italy. Porsche's average emissions are currently more than double the proposed 2012 target.
Countries like Belgium may go even further with plans to introduce new standards for the fuel and tire industries as well.
Reader Comments
Sun Jan 28 2007 9:20 AM
Renton says
It is so typical of a government to ban or restrict things that are not important to them. It is such a liberal mindset.
Germany is the 800 lb gorilla of Europe and the other counrtries want to level the field.
Emissions have been very well controlled over the years, why do they want to keep resticting them even further? Let it be.
/end rant
Tue Jan 30 2007 5:53 AM
nvme says
the reason for trying to control CO2 emissions is called global warming in case you haven't heard of it!
and by the way emissions have NOT been very well controlled over the years, or else we wouldn't be facing such a disaster
now ur thought on that other european countries want to level with germany is credible, on one condition; you being american! your governement plots so much against you that you end up believing it's what they do everywhere!
now i'm sure german car makers will find something to adapt to the emission rules, and that talking about a war is only an immediate reaction to "bad" news
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