Wiedeking Takes A Knee For Porsche
The EU recently delivered a one-two-three punch to German marques Porsche, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz by declaring that all carmakers that reside within the jurisdiction of Brussels' mandates may be forced to aggressively cap Carbon Dioxide emissions to 120 grams per kilometer by 2012. According to the Bloomberg report, Porsche's eco-friendliest model – the Boxster – churns out nearly twice that figure @ 220 g/km.
So it was Porsche's outspoken CEO Wendelin Wiedeking who led the counter assault. "This is a business war in Europe. It's the French and Italians up against the Germans". Indeed, large (economy) carmakers Renault, Peugeot, and Fiat are seen as far better prepared to adjust to the proposed mandatory emission caps.
The heads of German carmakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz along with the European divisions of Ford and GM have supported Porsche's sentiments by sending an it's-just-not-possible letter to the commission. German Kansler Angela Merkel has also thrown her weight behind domestic industry by promising to block any such legislation.
But whether these arguments will prevail against the mighty Brussels bureaucracy remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Porsche – solely a purveyor of gas-guzzling performance machines – remains vulnerable.
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It’s somehow heartwarming to see the Europeans getting bitten by their own political agenda. Granted, the whole global warming thing is nothing but a political agenda in disguise. But, they keep trying to foist it on us, so it’s a pleasure to see them getting hoist on their own petard.
Very well put, Ralph.