Carmakers have lost credibility - Green state premier Kretschmann

Allegations of a cartel of Germany’s most important carmakers to agree on prices, suppliers and technology standards have cost the industry a great deal of credibility, the Green Party state premier of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, has said, Arnold Rieger reports for Stuttgarter Zeitung. Kretschmann said the companies, including Daimler and Porsche from Baden-Württemberg, must seize the opportunity of the national diesel summit on 2 August to regain trust. This will only be possible if “everyone puts their cards on the table,” he said. Kretschmann added that the carmakers had to carry out “effective” and “controllable” retrofitting of their vehicles and quickly find a common standard mandatory for every brand. Kretschmann reiterated his opinion that modern diesel engines are a viable and clean engine technology. “I see no reason to change my mind,” he said.

Read the article in German here.

See the CLEW article Reactions to allegations over German carmaker cartel for more information.