Germany Trying to Keep EU Emissions Rules as Weak as Possible

The German government is joining the lobbying efforts of its automakers in attempting to weaken EU automotive CO2 emissions rules as much as possible before the final rules are ratified next week. The major German automakers like BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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, DaimlerDaimlerGermany, 1889 > present12 models
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and AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
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would have to clean up the large executive sedans and SUVs that offer especially high profit margins. The automakers warn that they may have to scale back production, which could result in layoffs.

It may not matter what Germany wants because the rest of the 27 member states are backing the harsher emissions rules. 

"They have tried everything at the highest level to pressure member states, in particular countries in the bailout club, to support their proposals. Germany seems hell-bent on pressing its interests. Even countries that are generally pro-German feel that they are going too far," said an anonymous EU diplomat to Automotive News.

The proposed CO2 rules would get an automaker average of 95g/km CO2 starting in 2020. Each manufacturer would have their own number to meet based on their annual production, but the European average would be 95g/km of CO2. 

Germany is proposing that CO2 credits earned before 2020 could be used afterward to subsidize its large cars. Currently, those credits would expire in 2020. An EU report estimates that if Germany gets its way, then average EU emissions will not reach 95g/km of CO2 until 2023. 

The current EU CO2 emissions target is 130g/km of CO2 by 2015. In 2012, the EU average was 132.2g/km of CO2. German automakers CO2 average was 147g/km of CO2 in 2011.

Source: Automotive News Europe