Berlin: A German court began considering on Thursday whether authorities should ban diesel cars from cities to lower air pollution, a move that could have drastic consequences for the country's powerful auto industry.
The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig is hearing an appeal by two German states against lower court rulings that suggested driving bans for particularly dirty diesel cars would be effective and should be seriously considered as a means of protecting public health.
The court has said a verdict could be issued as early as later on Thursday. If judges reject the appeal, dozens of cities would have a few months to enact measures to remove heavily polluting diesel vehicles from the roads -- an administrative nightmare for local authorities and a heavy blow to drivers who bought cars they were promised met emissions standards.
The original court cases were brought by environmental campaigners, who accuse the government of putting automakers' interests before people's health. pti