BMW Wants Bigger Loopholes, More Breathing Room

BMW's CEO Norbert Reithofer lambasted EU lawmakers for attempting to  "hurt European industry in competition with the United States and China," as Reuters reports. Said Reithofer at today's General Meeting of Shareholders in Munich: "In Europe, politicians are calling for a fleet average of 95 grams CO2 per kilometer in 2020. This target requires billions in investment, especially on the part of German automakers – and cannot be met without the use of alternative drive technology." Reithofer says the politicians are dreaming: "This is all about political wish-lists, and has nothing to do with technical analysis or feasibility … At some point, politicians will go a step too far." EU politicians last month backed what by some EU carmakers is seen as a compromise deal, and an improvement: The compromise keeps a 2020 emissions limit of 95 grams per kilometer as an average for new EU cars. It even introduces a new 2025 goal in a range of 68-78 g/km. However, it allows manufacturers to use supercredits to partly offset the requirements. Reithofer hinted at these credits, saying that "this is no secret – electric vehicles will help us comply with CO2 regulations worldwide." Reaching the 95g average  will be tough for a performance-heavy maker like BMW.  Currently, BMW's European fleet averages 138 grams of CO2 per kilometer. The standards set by the Obama administration equate to 93 grams of CO2 per kilometer by 2025 for ordinary cars, excluding sport utility vehicles, with big loopholes. Reithofer wants similar-sized loopholes: "The EU calls for alternative drive trains, but only credits manufacturers with a factor of 1.5 for using them – while the same technology is credited with a factor of five in China and a factor of two in the US. That seems inconsistent to me." from The Truth About Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com

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