Diesel vehicles will disappear sooner than expected, says EU industry chief

(The Guardian, 4 Apr 2017) European parliament backs tougher rules and €30,000 per vehicle fine for carmakers to prevent repeat of VW emissions scandal.

Diesel vehicles will disappear from roads much faster than expected, according to the European Union’s industry commissioner.

Elżbieta Bieńkowska spoke after the European parliament backed tougher rules to prevent manufacturers selling cars that produce far more toxic pollution when driven than in official tests.

The “dieselgate” scandal began when Volkswagen was caught cheating emissions tests in the US but it is now clear that almost all cars emit far more nitrogen dioxide than regulators intended. The scandal highlighted the EU’s lax vehicle regulations and on Tuesday the European parliament voted strongly in favour of a bill that would bolster EU oversight and allow Brussels to fine carmakers up to €30,000 (£26,000) per vehicle.

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The Guardian, 4 Apr 2017: Diesel vehicles will disappear sooner than expected, says EU industry chief