German Auto Industry Vows to Fight Anti-Car “Crusade”

The head of German auto industry lobbying group VDA vows a “louder” opposition to what he calls a “crusade against the car.”

President Bernhard Mattes, former head of Ford Motor Co.’s German operations, points to recent debate about imposing speed limits on the country’s autobahns as an example of “hysterical” populism, Automotive News Europe reports.

Mattes is similarly opposed to European Union plans to demand a 38% reduction in allowable carbon dioxide emissions from cars by 2030. He notes that Germany’s auto industry predicts that meeting that goal will create a massive upheaval that hikes car prices and eliminates thousands of jobs.

VDA’s members produced 16.5 million vehicles worldwide last year, including 5.1 million cars in Germany. Mattes says those companies have the capacity to make as many as 17 million vehicles annually, although actual output will be influenced by trade issues.