Germany Delays Ruling on Diesel Ban

A top German court was scheduled to decide on Thursday, February 19, on whether German cities--particularly Stuttgart and Düsseldorf--should ban heavily polluting diesel cars. The German court decided to move the ruling a week later.

If the court rules in favor of the ban, hundreds of millions of euros can potentially be wiped off the value of diesel cars in the country. It can also possibly lead to traffic chaos, industry experts say.

Over the last year, around 70 German cities suffered from nitrogen dioxide emissions that exceeded EU thresholds, and diesel cars were mostly to blame. Officials said diesels accounted for 72.5 percent of the harmful levels of pollution annually. Earlier this year, environmental agency Deutsche Umwelthlife (DUH) filed separate cases against nine German cities to compel them to enforce clean air regulations that include a complete ban on diesel vehicles.

The federal administrative court in Liepzig--which was responsible for the deferral of the decision--was scheduled to announce on Thursday whether the diesel ban could be implemented in Stuttgart and Düsseldorf to improve air quality in the cities. However, Judge Andreas Korbmacher delayed the decision and said the highest federal administrative court of the country will rule on February 27 instead.

Industry analysts suggest that carmakers and their suppliers may have had a hand in the delay, as these hold a strong influence in the German states.

Diesel emissions, which contain substances known to cause respiratory disease, have become a serious concern after German car brand Volkswagen was exposed to have cheated on diesel exhaust tests in 2015.

Aside from Germany, other countries are planning to ban diesel cars in their major cities. Athens, Paris, Madrid, and Mexico City have all pledged to eradicate diesel vehicles from their jurisdiction by 2025. Copenhagen wants to implement a diesel ban starting next year.

A country-wide ban is also being planned by France and Britain beginning 2040.

UPDATE: The court has allowed German cities to ban diesel cars from its streets, with some cities like Hamburg immediately stating after the ruling that it will implement limits on diesel vehicles from the end of April.