Porsche, Lamborghini sideswiped by EU's Emission Regulations

They are protesting that the restrictive European laws involving the emission of carbon dioxide are impossible to meet. These companies want some kind of exemption.

Lamborghini and others argue that they are coming out with “cutting edge” technologies that could “save the planet.” They are reducing the weight of their vehicles which leads to not only better acceleration but also reduced fuel consumption and less emissions.

Finally, they argue that drivers of their cars only take them out on the weekends. Thus, that means that they contribute only 0.3 percent carbon dioxide into the air.

Apparently, the European Union is listening. Execs at Aston Martin state that manufacturers who make less than 10,000 vehicles a year will be able to negotiate one-on-one with the EU on their quotas. This is apparently helping such companies as Aston Martin, Lotus, and Morgan.

Unfortunately, such a policy won't help exotic automakers owned by larger manufacturers. Ferrari and Maserati, for example, sell less than 5,000 cars a year. Since both are owned by Fiat, which has western European sales of about 1.2 million units, they are not exempt like Aston Martin.

Our take? If the EU doesn't get realistic in its stand, will we see a mass exodus of exotic carmakers to more friendly countries like, hmmm, the U.S.?

via Reuters