- Title: German carmakers agree to update software in 5.3 mln cars- minister
- Date: 2nd August 2017
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (AUGUST 2, 2017) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS DOBRINDT AND HENDRICKS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN TRANSPORT MINISTER ALEXANDER DOBRINDT, SAYING: "5.3 million Vehicles are supposed to be retrofitted. That was the promise today of the car industry." VOLKSWAGEN CEO MATTHIAS MUELLER, BMW CHAIRMAN HARALD KRUEGER, DAIMLER CHIEF DIETER ZETSCHE, AND HEAD OF GERMAN AUTO LOBBY VDA, MATTHIAS WISSMANN, LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN TRANSPORT MINISTER ALEXANDER DOBRINDT, SAYING: "The German government pledged a significant increase of financial investments in public transport in the cities and communities. Meaning that we will spent much more money in the retrofitting of busses, taxis and community vehicles. Some 250 million euros are in the discussion, which we will organise additionally. We will also invest in measure of infrastructure like bicycle tracks and so on. And will increase that from 125 million to 200 million." STATE MINISTERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN ENVIRONMENT MINISTER BARBARA HENDRICKS, SAYING: "We saw first approaches today that the representatives of the car industry realize that they have some things to make up to. To the environment, to the people, German cities, to German car owners. And last but not least for securing the position of German car manufacturers. But I cannot hide that the declaration of the VDA (car lobby) is not enough shaped by humility. And you read it today as a press statement. You are mistaken if you think this is a final statement. It is just the first attempt of the VDA." CAMERA (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN ENVIRONMENT MINISTER BARBARA HENDRICKS, SAYING: "Especially important it is to me that the costs of the extensive retrofitting will be fully covered by the manufacturers. The car owners must no fear any coasts for the retrofitting of their cars." PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (German) STATE PRIME MINISTER OF BADEN-WUERTTEMBERG, WINFRIED KRETSCHMANN, SAYING: "I would like to strongly criticize that the association of the international car manufacturers did not unanimously decided for the retrofitting. I think that with a market share of 35 percent this is not on." DOBRINDT TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN TRANSPORT MINISTER ALEXANDER DOBRINDT, SAYING: "As the state prime minister already said: as far as the international manufacturer go, I can only repeat myself as I have said at the discussions during the summit, that the way the international manufacturer have acted is totally unacceptable. If you want to keep your market share the way it is, than you must be prepared to take on responsibility, for the cities, for the health, for cleaner air And that responsibility is not yet met by the manufacturer." WIDE PRESS CONFERENCE AND PAN TO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF GERMAN AUTO LOBBY VDA, MATTHIAS WISSMANN, SAYING: "We know that we have responsibility in those companies that are under criticism. And we said today that we know that we have a duty in this situation that has been laid out by the state prime ministers." WIDE NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) DAIMLER CHIEF DIETER ZETSCHE, SAYING: "We take over the costs, the retrofitting will take maximum one hour and will have no impact on the certified fuel consumption or the performance. If there are any problems with parts because of the retrofitting, we will cover that as well." WIDE NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) DAIMLER CHIEF DIETER ZETSCHE, SAYING: "The modern diesel engine will continue to play an important part in the market until such time that we have a larger amount of electromobiles in the market." WIDE NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF GERMAN AUTO LOBBY VDA, MATTHIAS WISSMANN, SAYING: "We expect the software retrofitting to be in the area of 500 million. And I only speak of the three companies here." END OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 16th August 2017 19:06
- Keywords: diesel summit emissions German carmakers Dobrindt Hendricks
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA0016SGQPMV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:German politicians and car bosses agreed on Wednesday (August 2) to overhaul engine software on 5.3 million diesel cars to cut pollution and try to repair the industry's battered reputation.
However, environmentalists said the plan - almost two years after Volkswagen admitted to cheating U.S. diesel emissions tests - was too little, too late, and vowed to press ahead with legal action aimed at banning polluting vehicles.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's government has come under mounting pressure for not doing enough to crack down on vehicle pollution and for being too close to powerful carmakers.
The issue has become a central campaign topic ahead of next month's national election, prompting the government to summon the country's top car bosses to try to avert moves in some cities to force bans on diesel vehicles.
Ministers are wary of angering the owners of 15 million diesel vehicles and damaging an industry that is the country's biggest exporter and provides about 800,000 jobs.
To that end, politicians stopped short of demanding costly mechanical modifications to engine and exhaust systems and said they had agreed for now on software updates for 5.3 million cars.
Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks, from the centre-left Social Democrats, criticised the VDA automakers lobby for putting out a statement proclaiming a deal two hours before ministers spoke to the media. She added the VDA's comment that the deal was "unique in Europe and the world" lacked humility.
The stakes have increased for German carmakers in recent weeks. Britain and France have announced plans to eventually ban all diesel and petrol vehicles and Tesla has launched its first mass-market electric car.
Meanwhile, top German manufacturers BMW, Daimler, Audi, Porsche and VW are being investigated by European regulators for alleged anti-competitive collusion.
German car sales data on Wednesday showed diesel car sales fell 12.7 percent in July. Now diesel makes up only 40.5 percent of new car sales in Europe's largest car market, down from 46 percent at the end last year.
An opinion poll published on Wednesday by Die Welt newspaper showed 73 percent of Germans want politicians to take a tougher line with the car industry on air pollution.
VW's emissions test cheating - which was exposed by U.S. regulators - led to a string of revelations that showed diesel vehicles from most manufacturers release far more NOx gases on the road than in laboratory tests used to assess their safety.
But cutting back on NOx pollution is causing another headache for carmakers, which were betting on diesel technology to help cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to meet climate change rules. Diesel engines are up to 20 percent more fuel efficient than petrol equivalents.
Falling sales of diesel cars have led to an increase in CO2 emissions, Germany's KBA motor authority said on Wednesday. Average emissions per vehicle rose 0.4 percent in July to 128.4 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, it said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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