No More ‘Fun Fun Fun on the Autobahn’ Under Proposed German Laws

(Bloomberg) -- In Kraftwerk’s famous ode to the autobahn, drivers savored the freedom of limit-free motorways. That could all end, under proposals from a government panel.

A cap of 130 kilometers per hour (80 mph) is being recommended by unions and environmentalists, according to a leaked report, putting an end to Germany’s famous open-road policy. The proposals are for new laws to cut emissions in all sectors of the economy, Bild Zeitung and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported on Saturday.

While roadworks and other restrictions continually taper driving speeds along the motorways, the absence of speed limits enhances Germany’s reputation both as a maker of high-performance cars and as a nation that lets customers drive them.

Environmentalists backed by the Green Party have been at loggerheads with the German Association of the Automotive Industry lobby for years over the open road policy. Full-electric and hybrid passenger cars accounted for only 2 percent of all German road registrations in 2018, while sales of special utility vehicles reported the fastest growth for conventional vehicles.

In a front-page headline on Saturday, the tabloid Bild Zeitung blasted the proposals as a “mad” shock to all car drivers.

“Our autobahnen (motorways) are a symbol of freedom. ‘Tested on German autobahn’ is a quality seal,” the paper said in a leader column. “There are enough speed limits.”

A spokesman for the panel, known as the National Platform for the Future of Mobility, didn’t respond to telephoned queries on Saturday.

Little Choice

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government has little choice but to tackle CO2 output from automobiles. As a signatory of the Paris Climate accord, Germany must slash emissions from energy, industry, heating and cooling and farming by 2030. CO2 emitted by vehicles has increased since 1990.

The panel also recommended a staged increase of gasoline and diesel taxes to 52 euro cents (59 U.S. cents) per liter by 2030, while electric cars and hybrids should account for half of new registrations.

Merkel’s not compelled to adopt the proposals, which were drawn up before “yellow vest” riots over fuel taxes in France spooked German plans to replicate the move.

The government panel wants to base taxes on emissions rather than motor capacity, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said in a separate report which cited the document, meaning that car owners would face no net increase in tax.

To contact the reporter on this story: Brian Parkin in Berlin at bparkin@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Reed Landberg at landberg@bloomberg.net, Andre Janse van Vuuren, Cecile Gutscher

©2019 Bloomberg L.P.