In view of the ongoing SUV boom, the Federal Environment Agency has pleaded for more expensive vehicles with high CO2 emissions for more climate protection. “We have to find measures to promote climate-friendly mobility,” said the President of the Federal Environment Agency, Maria Krautzberger, the German Press Agency.
A proposal of the Federal Environmental Agency is an income-neutral bonus-malus system for new vehicles. The penalty would be levied on cars with high CO2 emissions through a tax increase over several years. The bonus would be paid through targeted promotion of the new purchase of a low-CO2 car.
A short-term incentive could also be to adjust the energy taxes of diesel and gas, so Krautzberger. Diesel has been subsidized for 18.4 cents per liter for years. “This has also contributed to the fact that large and heavy cars are increasingly equipped with diesel engines – the efficiency advantage of the diesel is thus only on paper, so there can be no talk of diesel as a climate protector.”
In July, the segment of sports utility vehicles (SUV) had again increased sharply. According to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), the number of new registrations increased by more than 15 percent compared to the same month of the previous year – the overall passenger car market grew by almost 5 percent. The number of off-road vehicles increased by 19.4 percent – the compact class, however, lost 1.6 percent.
After a survey of industry expert Dudenhöffer SUV had a market share of 31.4 percent for new registrations in the first six months. For the first time, more than one million SUVs will be registered in Germany this year, predicts the head of the CAR Institute at the University of Duisburg-Essen. The once-leading so-called hatchback sedan came to 28.1 market share in the first half of the year.
The KBA differentiates between the segments SUV and off-road vehicles, which has to do with optical and technical features. The manufacturers market the vehicles but mostly as SUV. For them, SUVs are a worthwhile business because their sales yield more returns than those of small and compact cars.
Above all, the transport sector must deliver in the debate on more climate protection, so that Germany reaches the climate targets. On 20 September, the Climate Cabinet of the Federal Government wants to decide on a total package.
It is also about a possible pricing of CO2 emissions. This would make fuel, heating oil and natural gas more expensive in order to save carbon dioxide (CO2) in the transport and building sectors. Citizens should be relieved in return. Also under discussion is a reform of the motor vehicle tax, which in the future could be more geared to CO2 emissions.
Green criticize model policy of the automaker
“An SUV boom should not be surprised if the car industry brings one model after the other in the salesrooms,” said the Green Transport politician Stephan Kühn the German press agency. “Car manufacturers, which align their portfolio on such Klimakiller, torpedo the climate protection.” The transport sector is the climate policy problem child, which is also due to the many SUVs and SUVs on the streets. “The Climate Cabinet must take gas guzzlers more into account in climate policy responsibility,” said Kühn. He spoke out as the Federal Environment Agency for a bonus-malus system in the vehicle tax, so that fuel-efficient SUVs and SUVs responsible for their “environmental damage”.
In this direction, the SPD thinks: The deputy chairman of the SPD parliamentary group, Matthias Miersch would ask new car buyers to pay more if they decide in the future for a diesel or a gasoline engine instead of an electric car. “If someone has the money to buy a new car, and absolutely wants a powerful horsepower gasoline, although more environmentally friendly electric cars are available, then he has to pay a price,” said Miersch the “editorial network Germany” (Tuesday). “Climate-damaging behavior has a price, and why should not we claim that as a society?”
Also SPD would ask buyers of internal combustion engines more to the cash register
The SUV polarized the population especially against the climate policy background, industry experts Dudenhöffer are convinced. It consumed SUV on average not so much more fuel than other car classes, as his study shows. Nevertheless Dudenhöffer breaks a taboo with a remarkable suggestion: “In Germany it might make sense not to offer these models, it would be a way to increase credibility in the climate debate”.
In particular, he has in mind the so-called “monster” SUVs such as BMW X7, Audi Q8, Range Rover Sport or Mercedes GLS. They are associated with risks for the carmaker. These giant SUVs could “destroy more brand value than flow into the class in euros on the revenue side,” warns Dudenhöffer,
According to his calculations, newly registered SUVs emit an average of 144.1 grams of CO2 per kilometer in the first six months of this year. This corresponds to an average consumption of 6.2 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers. By comparison, all new passenger cars together had an average CO2 emissions of 133.4 grams per kilometer – with a consumption of 5.6 liters.
Ride with dpa