FRANKFURT (Thomson Financial) - Porsche AG is considering taking legal action if the European Union pushes through proposed new carbon dioxide emissions regulations cutting average emissions for new vehicles to 120 grams per kilomter by 2012, Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported, citing a spokesman for the German carmaker.
'We would have to take legal steps,' the newspaper cited the spokesman as saying.
Automakers including Porsche have said the planned regulation favours companies that make compact cars, which commonly have lower emissions levels than, for instance, sports cars.
German carmakers produce a larger number of powerful cars that would make it harder to hit the target than southern European groups in Italy and France.
The Porsche spokesman said the regulation would distort competition.
Also, Porsche should not be forced to take a majority stake in Volkswagen AG, in which it already holds 31 pct, in order for its total fleet of cars to be able to comply with the 120 gramme limit, he told the newspaper. maria.sheahan@thomson.com mas/jlw COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2007. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.
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