As Europe sours on diesel, Germany fights to save it
[...] while others have increased investment in electric cars and pushed tougher rules against diesel itself, German auto executives and political leaders meeting in Berlin on Wednesday appeared determined to rescue diesel, not to hasten its death.
[...] most of the measures had already been announced, while politicians and automotive executives alike rejected calls by environmental groups to force carmakers to add antipollution hardware like better catalytic converters.
[...] as far as auto industry leaders were concerned on Wednesday, diesel remained central to their ambitions.
Wednesday’s meeting between ministers, state leaders and car company chiefs — described as a “diesel summit” — was an attempt to contain a crisis of confidence that threatens Germany’s most important industry, and perhaps even its national identity, ahead of elections next month.
Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW confront growing public outrage domestically and overseas for underplaying the health effects of diesel fumes and, in at least some cases, misleading customers about how much harmful nitrogen oxides their cars produce in everyday use.
Leaders of both major parties, meanwhile, face criticism that they have been too cozy with carmakers, blocking stricter European Union regulation of diesel emissions while providing tax breaks on diesel fuel.
Diesels are particularly important to German carmakers, and the technology has a long history — Rudolf Diesel, a German, invented the diesel engine.
Because of diesel’s superior fuel economy today, it is a popular option with buyers of the large luxury cars that are profit centers for the industry.
[...] recently, diesels outsold gasoline cars in Europe, thanks in part to de facto subsidies.