More manufacturers offer diesel rebate in Germany yet EVs not included

10 August 2017 Following the diesel forum held in Germany on 2 August, manufacturers from the country have been announcing their plans to ensure the technology can remain relevant in the face of rising criticism. BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen (VW) have already confirmed a retrofitting program, while BMW and VW have agreed rebate schemes for older vehicles. Now Daimler has plans to join the plans to offer grants to those willing to scrap their Euro 1-4 diesel vehicles. Reports suggest the manufacturer is offering up to €2,000 on the purchase of a new Euro 6 diesel, while those buying a Smart Electric Drive model, the changeover fee is to be €1,000. Customers must have had their car – which can be of any make or model – for a minimum of six months. However, in order to keep up with the offers, which could boost sales of new vehicles in Germany, foreign manufacturers are also developing their own plans, in what could become a wide-ranging and non-governmental ′scrappage’ scheme. French manufacturer Renault is offering up to €7,000 when drivers trade in a diesel Euro 1 – 4 vehicle for a Euro 6 version, however the offer does not apply to anyone purchasing an electric vehicle (EV), in what some media outlets are reporting as a paradox considering the initial plans are supposed to help lower air pollution. The premium is based on the value of the new vehicle and ranges from €2,000 for the small Renault Twingo, €5,000 for the Renault Mégane and up to €7,000 euros for the Renault Espace. Meanwhile Ford, which has expressed some concerns about the retrofitting plans and their effectiveness, has announced plans for a rebate of up to €8,000 when scrapping Euro 1-3 vehicles of any brand and replacing it with a petrol diesel or hybrid model. Drivers can receive up to €1,750 towards a Ford Ka+, €4,000 for the Fiesta and €5,000 on the EcoSport, with further packages for larger vehicles. In addition, the company will offer a five-year guarantee as part of the deal. However, the electric version of the Focus model is not part of the deal. The exclusion or lower incentive offers on EVs has caused concern from some, especially as many schemes only offer a swap to the Euro 6 diesel, effectively removing one engine and swapping it with another on the road. JÃœrgen Resch , CEO of Germany’s DUH, the environmental and consumer protection authority, comments: ′In terms of emissions of nitrous oxide (NOx), even Euro 3 diesel is, on average, cleaner than the Euro 5 diesel sold up to September 2016. Current exhaust emissions show the highest values ″‹″‹of NOx ever measured by the DUH. As long as the automobile industry sells diesel, which are dirtier on the street than are permitted in the laboratory, we will enforce driving bans in the framework of our legal procedures for these cars and sue for the lifting of the type approval.’