Car dealers will have to report CO₂ emissions more realistically in the future

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A percent sign is stuck on the window of a car

Photo: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa

In the future, car dealers will have to provide more transparent information about the fuel consumption or CO₂ emissions of new cars.

A corresponding labeling requirement in sales rooms and on the Internet comes into force this Friday, according to a paper from the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Information must now also be provided about the CO₂ costs over the years that a buyer has to expect.

There is already a CO₂ tax in Germany, which should also apply to the EU as a whole and will increase over the years.

When it comes to fuel consumption, the information must now correspond to the more realistic global test regulations (WLTP), which have been in force since the end of 2017.

However, the implementation of mandatory labeling as required by the EU has so far failed in Germany.

According to the regulation, those interested in new cars must be able to see the information in showrooms and on the Internet from May.

They are mandatory for print advertising in newspapers or magazines from August.

The transport, environment and the leading economic departments have agreed on the new car label.

“The new car label provides information about the energy costs and, for the first time, also about the CO₂ costs of the vehicles,” said Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens).

»The improved labeling enables an informed purchasing decision that protects the climate and protects your wallet.«

Costs of the CO₂ price for ten years

In addition to the consumption values ​​according to the more realistic WLTP test procedure and the CO₂ emissions, a new label for the efficiency classes will also be mandatory.

The vehicles are classified from A (no CO₂ emissions, green) to G (high emissions, red).

When classifying, only CO₂ emissions are taken into account.

Unlike before, weight no longer plays a role.

Previously, a heavy SUV could perform well because its fuel consumption was comparatively low in relation to its weight.

There will also be more information about so-called plug-in hybrids, i.e. cars with both electric and fossil fuel drives.

Firstly, a class classification is provided here as before for consumption in mixed operation.

On the other hand, the class for pure combustion engine operation must also be identified.

This takes into account the experience that many of these vehicles, which are often heavy and used as company cars, are only fueled with petrol or diesel.

Also new are cost information over the next ten years, which are expected due to the rising CO₂ price.

Since the extent of the increase is uncertain, three scenarios (high, medium, low) are assumed and shown for a mileage of 15,000 kilometers per year.

hey/Reuters