Automakers Getting Ready For Ban Of Diesels In Europe

Almost 30 years ago, Volkswagen ads introduced the German term fahrvergnuegen to communicate driving enjoyment. But now, because of its cheating on diesel emissions tests, VW has unwittingly helped introduce a new, less flattering term: fahrverbote, or driving ban.

Driving bans loom in Europe as governments in Germany, France and the U.K. crack down on toxic nitrogen oxide emissions from diesels, leaving brands such as VW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo at risk because they have strategically bet on the powertrain to meet tougher carbon dioxide emissions rules that start to take effect in 2020.

TheSteve - 6/19/2017 10:50:44 AM

+3 Boost

Spoiler alert...


The story is NOT about a Europe-wide outright ban on diesels. It's about the growing concerns that specific cities might ban diesel vehicles from entering city limits on certain days of the week. This is affecting sales of diesel vehicles to private citizens who own their vehicle for a long time, and are therefore concerned that it *might* be banned from a city sometime in the future.

qwertyfla - 6/19/2017 11:17:58 AM

-4 Boost

I remember all the old Farfrompuking or bumper stickers and T shirts after those silly ads aired. Now we are fuckinpuking from all the NOX and polutants caused from VW's "clean diesel".

TheSteve - 6/19/2017 12:57:14 PM

+2 Boost

Remember, it's not JUST VW's diesels. Since September 2015 -- Dieselgate's grand debut -- we've come to understand that ALL diesel passenger vehicles tested emit far beyond lab-legal NOx levels when operated in the real world. Mercedes, GM, Fiat/Chrysler, Opel, Mazda, just to name a few. Current investigations are trying to determine if they used a "cheat device" (as defined by law) to pull this off, like VW did.

qwertyfla - 6/19/2017 2:39:24 PM

0 Boost

TheSteve I know that all diesels are dirty. I used to live in Berlin and remember my migraine headaches that vanished when I moved back to Toronto. I was just having fun with their silly marketing slogans and corporate morals -oops they have none. There I go again!

carloslassiter - 6/19/2017 2:57:48 PM

+1 Boost

Hmm. I wonder what impact this will have on the electric car market?

TheSteve - 6/19/2017 4:03:16 PM

+3 Boost

carloslassiter: None so far. EV sales are still flat. The global oil and gasoline glut might have something to do with that, as well as relatively cheap dino-juice prices at the pump in North America.

Strangely, in relatively small European countries where gasoline and diesel are scary expensive and everything is located close to everything (i.e., no need for loooong daily commutes), you'd think EV sales would be stellar, but not so. They languish there, too, partly because electricity costs are also expensive compared to those in North America.