This Wednesday could have been a good day for the German automotive industry. Finally, again for a abgasgebeutelte industry. Against the fierce resistance of Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU), the Federal Government has approved a 1.2 billion-euro support program for electric cars. Purchase premiums tax incentives and charging stations for the Stromer should thus be financed.
The automotive future, vigorously subsidized by the state may begin. But it was still not a nice day. Not for the carmaker and even less for Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU).
Because, auszukippen had occurred shortly after the decision of the Cabinet the cornucopia on the key sector, Dobrindt met for a crisis meeting with the representatives of Opel.
The result: the Rüsselsheim carmaker had to concede after hours of talks that media reports that the emission control under certain conditions simply shuts down, are correct. And that is definitely the whole industry in the pillory.
The auto industry leads the policy before
Once again were the Minister and the entire federal policies that promote car industry, where they can, presented by the manufacturers. Despite investigations by an inserted from Dobrindt Commission all carmakers say tough, even Opel, is not to obey the law. Only: That you believe in the Ministry now no longer
Karl-Thomas Neumann had brought potent reinforcement for his summons to the Minister.. The Opel boss came with the ex-prime minister and former Bilfinger chief Roland Koch to Berlin. Cooking is not only a lawyer, he also knows how politicians tick. And the mission of Neumann and cooking was tricky.
They had to explain why the cleanup of certain Zafira models at certain speeds or air pressure conditions simply shuts down. And why this is legal. Four hours was met behind closed doors.
In the end, neither the Opelaner even cooking could convince the Minister and his advisors exhaust. “The inspection has doubts about whether the process which has been described by Opel, must be fully justified with the motor protection” Dobrindt said.
With the protection of the engine of the car maker founded the shutdown of the abatement. After the Zafira, which provided the occasion for the investigations, including the Opel Astra will now be checked.
Opel now remain even 14 days
This device by Volkswagen Opel now also deep into the vortex of exhaust affair – and has at the end of its own diesel gate. Now to be “promptly” clarified whether the technical devices Opels are legal.
14 days has to provide the carmaker time, the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) for all necessary documents. The Rüsselsheim the authority must also provide insights into the carefully guarded by the manufacturers software for motor control.
What there comes to light, could be explosive. For Opel, for the parent company General Motors – so that the exhaust affair would again landed in the United States. And in the end for the entire auto industry. Because if a new method for bypassing the exhaust regulations has been exposed, the question arises: Who has been applied
Initially, however, Opel struggles, the law? violated to have. After the “mirror” and the television magazine “Monitor” had reported also Opel have emission control switched off selectively – as VW with other technical means – Neumann had leaned far out the window.
“These accusations are false, it is still valid:.. We at Opel no illegal software an Our motors comply with the statutory provisions,” he asserted .
values reported “unusually strong” from the norm
In Berlin Neumann had now concede that it is true that the Zafira from tempo 140 or low air pressure as it is measured from about 1000 meters above sea level, “scale down” the emission is therefore simply shut down.
is justified this by saying that the motors are protected so before the release of ammonia and thus damage. “We have doubts about whether the process can be truly justified by the motor protection” Dobrindt said. In the legal assessment of the Group and the exhaust-emission Commission settled in the point “recognize differences”.
According to an EU directive are shutdown only allowed if they serve to protect the engine. Protection is but apparently very far extended by the automobile manufacturers – if too far, will become clear in the coming weeks. “At the end of the KBA will decide whether this defeat devices are legal or illegal,” says the Ministry
This applies even in the case of Opel -. But for Fiat Chrysler. The Italian-American carmaker, also supplied in the tests of KBA, which were arranged after the unveiling of diesel gate at VW suspicious emissions. Values which were not to justify, unlike the competitors not only too high and partly, but the abnormally deviated from the norm.
Which automakers are still “clean”?
Manager of Fiat have now for this Thursday in the Ministry ordered. “We will listen to what you will explain us the shutdown of the abatement,” said a Ministerialer.
Fiat is pre-been, the emission control switch after a certain duration just off automatically. That would be just compared to the methods of Volkswagen a rather clumsy method to beautiful emission sword.
After Volkswagen and the charges against Daimler now so Opel and Fiat in sight – because the question arises, what carmaker ever is still clean.
Because in the case of Opel it stands to reason that more brands of parent company General Motors (GM) could be provided with potentially illegal software. So driving worldwide Chevrolets, GMCs or Buicks with unauthorized emission control systems by the countries? And the world?
And should have cheated Fiat how clean are then the vehicles of Chrysler? The major manufacturers are currently working across brands in software development
The investigations which KBA could now trigger investigations against the carmaker for example in the US so -. And therefore a new car quake.
so far there were indeed Americans that revealed the tricks of a producer, namely Volkswagen. If the offense now come from KBA, but that may not concealed, that the German authorities are the Wretched in the exhaust scams that hanker after the manufacturers.
What would threaten Opel
They were in the current case of Opel investigations the German environmental aid (DUH), which had come to the attention of investigators exhaust the GM subsidiary. Remeasurements DUH on the road had both the Zafira and the Opel Astra “alarming levels and defeat devices” disclosed.
Only when that has been known to respond to the Minister and the Authority. “There are an infinite variety of ways to manipulate the emission values of technical means. We can not let investigate all at random and without concrete suspicion researching”, says the Ministry of Transport helpless.
Should Opel are transferred, the proboscis Heimern threatening way as Volkswagen in Germany virtually no penalties. A callback the affected cars can be arranged much more. That the policy possible in theory sanctions arising from the Road Traffic Act or the general criminal law shall take, is unlikely.
And even for a recall and withdrawal of approval of cars, in which the exhaust gas values were manipulated, is possible for the German authorities not so readily.
Opel has let itself to providing the approval for the relevant models in the Netherlands. Before this country something could be done about Opel, the German government would therefore have to vote first with the Dutch.
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