Germany close to adopting weight-based CO2 labelling standards for new cars

Thu 07 July 2011 View all news

The German Parliament (Bundesrat) is close to adopting controversial weight-based CO2 labelling standards for new cars. Environmental groups have called on the European Commission to block the German move which they say gives 'gas guzzling SUVs' the same 'green' rating as some of Europe's most fuel efficient cars. 

A spokesman for the Brussels-based environment group Transport & Environment said: “The German car industry has persuaded its government to produce a green label that would put the Panzer tank in the same fuel efficiency category as a Smart car. The industry are treating their customers with contempt by conning them into thinking their gas guzzling SUVs are green.”

T&E says that the proposed German label puts the German government on a collision course with the European Commission as a 1999 EU law prohibits car labelling ‘if their display might cause confusion to potential consumers of new passenger cars’ (1).

Car labelling elsewhere in Europe does not include a weight-based component. CO2 labelling of both new and used cars in the UK - voluntary initiatives brokered by the LowCVP - adopt an absolute standard without including size or weight-based considerations.


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