Environmental Groups Call on Automakers to Drop Suit Against California's Proposed Emissions Law

FRANKFURT, Germany March 21, 2005; The AP reported that a group of national environmental organizations on Monday urged German automakers to pull out of a California lawsuit against the U.S. state's proposed stricter clean air regulations, accusing them of double standards.

In letters addressed to the heads of BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Porsche and Volkswagen, nine German environmental groups urged the companies to make more environmentally friendly cars, instead of fighting laws that would force them to do so.

"It is hypocrisy that the German automobile industry portrays itself as environmentally friendly on the one hand and on the other hand, legally challenges a decisive environmental regulation," said Manfred Treber from the Germanwatch organization.

The letters argued that several other U.S. states and Canada were ready to adopt similar regulations, which would make them the law for one-third of the North American car market.

The regulations, adopted in September, call for smaller engines and other technological changes to cut emissions by 25 percent for cars and light trucks, and about 18 percent for larger trucks and SUVs. They are to be phased in by 2009.

The four German carmakers joined Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp., Mitsubishi Motors, Mazda, and Toyota Motor Co. in December to sue to block the regulations, saying they must by law be the responsibility of the federal government.

There was no immediate reaction from the German carmakers.