VW And Daimler Will Pay To Get Diesels Retrofitted In Germany

Both Volkswagen and Daimler have agreed to offer hardware retrofits to clean up older diesel vehicles at their own cost, spending up to 3,000 euros ($3,430) per vehicle.

This decision is in direct response to more and more German cities agreeing to ban older diesels. In fact, during a recent talk between Germany’s Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer and automakers, a court ruled that Cologne and Bonn will also have to impose diesel bans.

While VW and Daimler have already agreed to spend money in order to help reduce diesel emissions via retrofitting, rival BMW is refusing to do the same, according to Scheuer. Still, all three automakers are committed to spending up to 3,000 euros for various measures, including trade-in incentives, reports Automotive News Europe.

Such incentives are aimed at convincing customers to buy newer and cleaner vehicles with lower emissions, which in turn wouldn’t be affected by any driving bans.

“Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW will make sure their customers can remain mobile,” stated Scheuer, while also urging the likes of Fiat and PSA to do the same.

As for the recent diesel ban in Cologne, it refers to certain parts of the city and is said to commence next April.

“It will cause disruption for the transport infrastructure of the city of Cologne and have a significant impact on residents, commuters and the whole of Cologne,” said state environment minister, Ursula Heinen-Esser.