A top court in Germany has ruled that polluting vehicles such as older diesels can be banned from the urban centres of Stuttgart and Dusseldorf. The decision could lead to more diesel bans in German cities (and possibly beyond Germany) and could accelerate a market move away from diesel technology in Europe.
The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig said the cities of Stuttgart and Duesseldorf could legally ban more older, more polluting diesel cars from zones impacted by the worst air pollution.
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The ruling by the court follows appeals against bans by German states had imposed by local courts in Stuttgart and Dusseldorf, in cases brought by environmental group DUH.
The DUH said bans were necessary after about 70 German cities exceeded European Union nitrogen oxide (NOx) levels limits last year.
"Bans are generally permissible and can be implemented in a way to avoid disproportionate effects," Presiding Judge Andreas Korbmacher said.
The car industry has yet to respond to the ruling, but German OEMs have said that diesel technology is essential to enable carmakers to meet tighter CO2 emission rules from 2021.
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