Diesel concept will include swap and retrofit options – transport minister

The German government is working on a concept to reduce emissions from diesel cars in German cities which will include swap and retrofit options, said transport minister Andreas Scheuer during a live video chat on Instagram. “We are currently talking mainly to German manufacturers regarding solutions in 14 affected cities,” said Scheuer. He added that foreign carmakers have the responsibility “to offer the same attractive transfer premiums as the German manufacturers have already promised”. German chancellor Angela Merkel and several ministers – including environment minister Svenja Schulze, finance minister Olaf Scholz and economy minister Peter Altmaier – will meet Monday night (1 October) to decide a concept. Scheuer said it will not be able to satisfy every diesel car owner. “It's hard to put together an all-round carefree package, we have to be honest about that. We will not be able to solve all the individual cases.” His party, the Christian Social Union (CSU) had decided that car owners should not have to pay for retrofits. Scheuer said that carmaker Volkswagen (VW) had offered to pay only part and now the government had to discuss ways to fill the gap.

Find the transport ministry Instagram account here.

Get background on the diesel story in the CLEW factsheet "Dieselgate" - a timeline of Germany's car emissions fraud scandal.