Faconauto, Spain’s largest dealers’ federation, has reiterated claims that government initiatives to curb automobile CO2 emissions are “demonising” the industry.
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In a statement, the federation slammed the Madrid government’s plan to curb high-polluting cars’ access to the city’s centre after 2010.
The measure will affect 1m cars and hurt low-income immigrant drivers who can’t afford to buy a newer and more environmentally-friendly vehicle, Faconauto charged.
The Madrid initiative is “ironic” given the central administration’s recent decision to scrap the Prever used-car trade-in programme, which Faconauto and other industry lobbies claim is the best way to reduce auto-linked emissions.
Madrid should launch a regional trade-in programme to avoid the “drastic” initiative.
“We need a renewal programme that works separately from the registration tax, offers enough financial incentives to promote the retirement of old vehicles and enables low-income families to buy a more secure and ecological use car,” Faconauto said.
Spain has the largest number of used cars (over 10 years old) in Europe after Greece.
Faconauto added that the country’s regions should adopt more “cohesive and coordinated” automobile environmental policies as the current initiatives “are demonising the industry excessively.”
Ivan Castano Freeman
