Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • New Product
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
    • Munich Auto Show
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
  • Features
    • Long Read
    • Interview of the Month
    • Focus on Electrification
    • Focus on Technology
    • Segment Analysis
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Europe By The Numbers
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
  • Podcasts
  • Car Cutaways
  • EVENTS
    • ANE Congress
    • ANE Rising Stars
    • ANE Eurostars
    • Browse photos from the 2021 awards ceremony
  • More
    • Publishing Partners
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
    • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
    • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
    • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
    • TUV Rheinland: Battery testing center for large battery packs and more
    • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
    • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
    • Toyota Europe
    • UFI Filters
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automotive News Europe
September 27, 2013 01:00 AM

French carmakers back German bid to delay EU carbon limits

Staff and wire reports
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    BRUSSELS -- Renault and PSA/Peugeot-Citroen have reversed their stance and now support a German bid to delay a 95 grams per kilometer limit on average CO2 emissions for new cars in the EU, government officials and diplomats said.

    Backed by German automakers, Chancellor Angela Merkel's government aims to water down a deal agreed in June to cut average new-car emissions to 95g/km by 2020 from 130/g/km now. The 95g/km target is equivalent to fuel use of 4 liters per 100km (59 U.S. mpg/71 UK mpg).

    Berlin wants to introduce a four-year phase-in period under a proposal circulated by German diplomats.

    Germany has so far been unable to secure support from a blocking minority of governments to dilute the new rules, ahead of a vote scheduled later this week. But Renault and PSA have broken ranks with the French government to side with Germany's Daimler, BMW and General Motors' Opel division.

    "We became aware of this common industry position last week," a French ministry official said. Germany is expected to use it to press the new demands, an EU official said on Friday.

    Alliance pressure

    Renault and PSA have previously said they stand to gain competitive advantage from new CO2 limits, thanks to the smaller-than-average size and fuel consumption of the cars they sell. But the French carmakers have come under pressure from their respective alliance partners to adopt a common stance on CO2.

    Renault and Japanese affiliate Nissan share a growing number of engines and vehicle platforms with Daimler. PSA is hoping to renew a major engine-sharing deal with BMW and is developing future vehicles with 7 percent shareholder General Motors and its Opel division.

    Under the German proposal the average CO2 emissions limit of 95g/km would apply only to 80 percent of cars produced in 2020, rising by 5 percentage points each year to reach full implementation only in 2024.

    The final rules should be "designed in a way that manufacturers are enabled to reach the 2020 target in the most cost-effective way," the German proposal says. "Therefore they need more flexibility in the transition phase."

    The Transport & Environment lobby group said the latest German proposal would effectively raise the 2020 target by nearly 10 percent to 104g/km in 2020. It would also raise the average new car driver's fuel bills by 138 euros a year as new vehicles will be less fuel efficient, the Brussels-based group said.

    'Gaz guzzlers'

    Greg Archer, from Transport & Environment, said Germany wants to give its luxury carmakers "four more years to sell even more gas-guzzlers."

    The lobby group said Germany still has not secured the support of enough EU countries to form a blocking minority to undo the deal negotiated in June. "But Chancellor Merkel is exerting extreme pressure on member states to bend to her demands," it added in a statement.

    Renault and Peugeot, which had raised no previous objections to the proposed CO2 limits, declined to comment on whether they now support Germany's bid to loosen the rules.

    PSA "has already taken the 2020 targets into account and is well on track to meet them -- while also aware that they are tough," a spokeswoman said.

    Renault executives often discuss the company's regulatory stance with Daimler counterparts, a source close to the French carmaker said. "Renault and Daimler talk a lot about this kind of stuff."

    Reuters contributed to this report

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    VW agrees to buy $4 billion worth of lidar components from Israel's Innoviz
    Recommended for You
    Innoviz Daily Drive.jpg
    VW agrees to buy $4 billion worth of lidar components from Israel's Innoviz
    2022 ANE Rising Stars winners
    Automotive News Europe awards the 2022 Rising Stars
    Andreas-Christoph Hofmann 2021 Eurostars
    Hyundai marketing VP Andreas-Christoph Hofmann to speak at Automotive News Europe Congress
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2022. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • New Product
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • On The Move
      • Auto Shows
        • Munich Auto Show
        • Geneva Auto Show
        • Paris Auto Show
        • Beijing Auto Show
        • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Features
      • Long Read
      • Interview of the Month
      • Focus on Electrification
      • Focus on Technology
      • Segment Analysis
      • Cars & Concepts
      • Supplier Spotlight
      • Europe By The Numbers
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Podcasts
    • Car Cutaways
    • EVENTS
      • ANE Congress
      • ANE Rising Stars
      • ANE Eurostars
        • Browse photos from the 2021 awards ceremony
    • More
      • Publishing Partners
        • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
        • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
        • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
        • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
        • TUV Rheinland: Battery testing center for large battery packs and more
        • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
        • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
        • Toyota Europe
        • UFI Filters
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • About Us