The main appeals court in Germany rejected an attempt to prevent Mercedes-Benz and BMW from continuing to sell vehicles with internal combustion engines starting in November 2030, in a decision that represents a setback for environmental movements.
The ruling was issued by the Federal Court of Justice, based in Karlsruhe, which confirmed the decisions of lower courts and dismissed the actions brought by three directors of the environmental organization DUH (Deutsche Umwelthilfe).
The plaintiffs supported their request based on an alleged “carbon budget” assigned to each of the car manufacturers, arguing that this limit would justify the prohibition of selling new combustion vehicles after the specified date.
However, the court concluded that there is no formal distribution of carbon budgets to individual companies, thus invalidating the central basis of the case.
Both Mercedes-Benz and BMW reacted positively to the decision, emphasizing their commitment to more sustainable practices.
A spokesperson for BMW highlighted that the verdict brings “legal certainty for companies operating in Germany,” in a context of increasing regulatory pressure on the automotive sector.
