Stuttgart to impose driving ban on pre-Euro 5 diesels

12 July 2018

Stuttgart—the hometown of Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Audi—will impose restrictions on driving of diesel vehicles in the city center. According to new rules announced yesterday by the state government of Baden-Württemberg, diesel vehicles that do not meet Euro 5 or later emission standards will not be allowed in select parts of central Stuttgart, effective January 1, 2019.

Overall, some 530,000 diesel vehicles are registered in the Stuttgart region. Out of this number, an estimated 190,000 vehicles only meet the Euro 4 and earlier emission standards, and will be potentially affected by the regulation.

Euro 5 standards became effective from September 2009 for new types, and from January 2011 for all new vehicles.

Stuttgart is the second German city to impose diesel driving restrictions. In May this year, the City of Hamburg adopted a “diesel transit regulation” that imposes driving restrictions on pre-Euro 6 diesels. However, the Hamburg regulation is applicable only to short sections of two streets, while the Stuttgart restrictions apply to a much larger zone in the city center.

The regulation includes exceptions for emergency vehicles, taxis, coaches, as well as tradesmen. Residents with older diesel cars will be given a transition period until April 1, 2019.

Germany’s Federal Administrative Court ruled in February that cities have the right to impose driving bans on diesel cars, which do not apply to gasoline vehicles, to reduce air pollution.

Source: Deutsche Welle