Mercedes-Benz to subsidise retrofitting older diesels to get around inner-city bans in Germany – report

Mercedes-Benz to subsidise retrofitting older diesels to get around inner-city bans in Germany – report

Mercedes-Benz owners can apply for a 3,000 euro (RM14,054) subsidy towards the upgrading of exhaust particulate filters in older diesel models as part of the automaker’s efforts towards getting around inner-city bans, Reuters reports.

Daimler launched a website earlier this week to process applications for said financial support while German transport authority KBA works to gain approval for an aftermarket upgrade kit for exhaust systems on older Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the report said.

The first retrofit package is for the Stuttgart-based automaker’s Euro 5-compliant engines, including those which power the popular E 220 and E 250 models produced by Dr Pley SCR Technology, a family business based in Bavaria, Reuters notes. The third-party hardware retrofit package will cost approximately 3,000 euros to install, or similar to the amount of the aforementioned subsidy.

Mercedes-Benz to subsidise retrofitting older diesels to get around inner-city bans in Germany – report

This has been offered to customers in regions within Germany which potentially face driving bans, the report added. Automakers had initially provided software updates to affected vehicles and stopped short of offering hardware retrofits, instead lobbying for customers to buy new models with cleaner engines, the report said.

German cities started banning heavily polluting diesel vehicles due to fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions, with automakers made to upgrade their models’ exhaust treatment systems as a result. These diesel bans are unnecessary, Volkswagen chairman Herbert Diess had previously said, adding that he is more concerned with CO2 and climate change rather than the air quality issue “which we can handle.”

Germany has been among the more recent of its European neighbours to clamp down of diesel-powered vehicles. Before it, cities such as Paris, Madrid and Mexico City put forth plans to ban diesels by 2025, with Norway setting the clock on both petrols and diesels along the same timeline. On a wider national level, France and Britain have aimed to ban both petrols and diesels by 2040.

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Mick Chan

Open roads and closed circuits hold great allure for Mick Chan. Driving heaven to him is exercising a playful chassis on twisty paths; prizes ergonomics and involvement over gadgetry. Spent three years at a motoring newspaper and short stint with a magazine prior to joining this website.

 

Comments

  • Sam Smiths on Aug 07, 2019 at 6:21 pm

    Diesels here alredi decatted. so no diff

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Majid bin Baharum on Aug 07, 2019 at 7:43 pm

    Germans should not complain. At least their Diesel is Euro 5 or 6. In Malaysia, because of stupidity and inefficiency the past 30 years, our diesel is still Euro 2M. Poison and toxic.

    Euro 2 was banned in the whole of Europe in 1994. 25 years later, Malaysia still using it.

    Even Singapore was Euro 4 10 years ago.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
  • JasonT on Aug 07, 2019 at 8:03 pm

    Diesels should be phase out soonest possible. It’s not only polluting but it’s also expensive to maintain for the long haul. My neighbour bought a new truck but when he starts and wait for his wife at least 20 minutes, I have to run to close all my windows and doors. Just look at China, they are trying to move away from fossil fuels.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Ex VGM staff on Aug 08, 2019 at 5:40 pm

    Norway won’t have any car magazines by 2030. Or petrol stations. Or workshops.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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