Certain Porsche Cayenne, Macan And Mercedes Vito Models Now Banned In Switzerland

Certain new Mercedes-Benz Vito models, as well as diesel-powered Porsche Macan and Cayenne vehicles, have been banned by Swiss authorities for having disguised emissions levels.

The move is said to only affect vehicles imported from August 17, meaning that models that are already registered can continue to drive on Swiss roads as long as their owners can get them retrofitted, reports Automotive News.

Soon to suffer will be Mercedes Vito models equipped with 1.6-liter diesel engines, Porsche Macans powered by the VW Group’s 3.0-liter V6 TDI unit, and Cayennes with the large 4.2-liter diesel – all three engines have Euro 6 emission norms.

According to an e-mail statement by the carmaker, Daimler has already stopped exporting the Vito after German authorities ordered a recall and halted all new registrations for it back in May, affecting approximately 24 units scheduled to depart for Switzerland.

This is easily one of the strongest stances on diesel emissions cheating experienced by the industry so far, and it wouldn’t come as a surprise if other countries started to become even less tolerable with regards to diesel-powered cars – a technology that some automakers still support and regard as being part of their future.

Earlier this year, Porsche sales chief Detlev von Platen himself stated that diesel engines still make sense for SUV models “where customers want torque and range.”