Germany is leading the charge on the World Economic Forum’s green agenda, pushing policies that target individual mobility to reduce CO2 emissions. However, these measures are sparking significant backlash, especially from diesel vehicle owners and the automotive industry.

At the center of the controversy is the measurement of emissions from combustion engines. While the NEFZ testing cycle has been standard, it often doesn't reflect real-world conditions. Environmental NGOs argue that actual emissions are higher, claiming urban areas have become hazardous due to car pollution.

In response, stricter regulations and cleaner engine technologies were developed. Modern diesel engines can emit cleaner air than they take in under certain conditions. However, new regulations threaten to retroactively revoke the licenses of millions of diesel vehicles, including those meeting Euro 6 standards. This could devastate car owners and the automotive industry alike.

This potential change originates from a lawsuit in Düsseldorf, referred to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The central issue is whether new standards can be retroactively applied to vehicles approved under older regulations. If upheld, this could be seen as a cold expropriation of diesel car owners and a significant step towards socialism.

Germany and the Eurozone are already in a recession, and these restrictive policies could deepen the economic downturn. The push for electric vehicles is clear, with the ECJ likely to support this shift despite its economic implications. Environmental NGOs, funded by their campaigns, continue to thrive, while critics argue that these actions sabotage Germany’s industrial base. Meanwhile, the auto industry faces a crisis as older cars are forced off the roads, potentially leading to increased sales of new vehicles but at the cost of consumer trust and stability.