Würzburg/Germany, 26 June 2007
The president of the German Automobile Industry Association (VDA), Matthias Wissmann, believes that Germany’s automobile industry provides a good basis for converting the country’s car taxation system over to a CO2 emission-based tax. Potential car buyers would find that there were plenty of economically run, German-made cars with a low level of CO2 emission available on the market in all categories of car. This was the opinion given by Mr. Wissmann in an interview for the latest edition (no. 26) of Germany’s motor sector magazine, »kfz-betrieb«, which will go on sale on 28 June 2007.
Mr. Wissmann also states in the interview that German car manufacturers avouch the fact that environmental and climate protection requires full commitment and effort. He goes on to say that, even before the current debate began on CO2 emissions, they had already lowered the level of CO2 consumption in their new vehicles by 25 percent since the 1990’s. However, Mr. Wissmann points out that each new goal set for CO2 emissions should apply as an average to all makes and types of car throughout Europe. „Only then can we guarantee that each and every car manufacturer makes an effort to further reduce emissions in all categories of car.“
The current reluctance on the part of consumers to buy cars is, according to Mr. Wissmann, to be attributed to the lack of definite general framework conditions for car drivers. Now that car driving has become more expensive due to tax increases and cuts in the fixed-rate relief for commuter drivers, consumers are now expecting to hear clear statements on future car taxation. Mr. Wissmann says that he is open to a CO2-based taxation system. That, he says, would be the best approach as far as the environment and economy are concerned.
He then points out that if a CO2-based car tax were to come into operation, each gramme of CO2 would have to be taxed equally. „In other words, a car emitting twice as much CO2 as another car would have to pay double the car tax, and vice versa,“ says Mr. Wissmann in his interview with »kfz-betrieb«. In order to ensure that the new tax then achieves its goals in terms of the economic climate and environment, the new taxation would – according to Mr. Wissmann – have to be applied not only to new vehicles but also to all cars already on Germany’s roads.
»kfz-betrieb« is published by Vogel Auto Media, Würzburg/Germany, and is the most widely read specialist magazine in the German car trade, celebrating its 95th anniversary in 2005 and fulfilling the role of official publication of the German vehicle trade association (ZDK), which represents the interests of over 40,000 car dealer businesses and repair garages.
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact:
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