German Transport Minister Volker Wissing issued a warning that has raised concerns within the European automotive industry. According to Wissing, a new interpretation of EU emission regulations could lead to more than 8 million diesel vehicles being banned from the roads in Germany alone, and tens of millions of diesel vehicles across Europe. Here are the details…

Euro 5 and 6 Diesel Vehicles at Risk in Germany and Europe: What Do the New Emission Regulations Entail?

At the heart of this concern is an ongoing case at the European Court of Justice. Wissing has asked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for a clear statement on whether emission limits should apply not just under standard test conditions but in every driving condition.

The minister noted that the Commission advocates for these limits to be applicable in all driving situations. This could mean that existing diesel vehicles, particularly Euro 5 and potentially Euro 6 vehicles, may not meet the new standards.

Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for Internal Market, tried to calm these concerns by stating that the Commission does not intend to change or retroactively apply emission rules. Breton also emphasized that they do not plan to penalize citizens who have invested in electric vehicles.

Current homologation tests are based on standard procedures like the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) and more recently, Real-Driving Emissions (RDE) tests. RDE tests measure emissions under real driving conditions using portable emission measurement systems (PEMS). Wissing argues that the Commission’s interpretation might require emission limits to be enforced even under extreme conditions (such as driving uphill with a full load), which could be technically impossible for existing vehicles.

In Germany, 4.3 million Euro 5 diesel vehicles and 3.9 million Euro 6 diesel vehicles could be affected by these new regulations. Across the EU, it is estimated that over 50 million Euro 5 and 6 diesel vehicles could be subject to these standards, nearly half of the total 105 million diesel vehicles.

The European automotive market is already undergoing rapid changes. In 2021, 42% of the 250 million passenger cars in Europe were diesel. However, new registrations show that the share of diesel vehicles is steadily declining. As of June 2024, only 12.7% of new car sales were diesel, compared to 14.4% for electric vehicles and 35.6% for hybrids.

This situation could have significant implications for the automotive industry, consumers, and the environment. How the EU will balance the need to reduce emissions with the existing vehicle fleet remains to be seen. What are your thoughts? Feel free to share your views in the comments below.