Lower Saxony: Big differences in car emissions standards discovered!

Lower Saxony: Big differences in car emissions standards discovered!

Lower Saxony shows its multifaceted side when it comes to the vehicle fleet. A current analysis by the Federal Motor Transport Authority reveals the sometimes astonishing differences in emissions standards for cars in the country. Lower Saxony has both the cleanest and dirtiest vehicles in Germany, which is a topic of conversation.

A closer look at the numbers reveals a lot about the admission districts. In Wendland, for example in Lüchow-Dannenberg, around 33.7% of cars have outdated emissions standards (Euro 1 to Euro 4). In Nienburg and Salzgitter the proportion of these old vehicles is also around 30%. Interestingly, Wolfsburg is at the top of the rankings: with a share of only 10.9%, the city, which is closely linked to Volkswagen, represents a remarkable contrast to the other districts. The reason for these low values ​​is probably partly due to the special conditions for VW employees when buying new cars. In Wolfsburg there are statistically 973 cars per 1,000 inhabitants, and the city also shines when it comes to electric cars, where 77% of the vehicles meet the new Euro 6 emissions standard. This shows clear purchasing power and a good knack among citizens for modern and environmentally conscious mobility.

Emissions in focus

But what about the bigger picture? The Federal Environment Agency has published current data showing that the transport sector in Germany has so far hardly contributed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. On the contrary: the share of transport emissions has increased from around 13% in 1990 to 22% in 2023. This development is particularly striking because traffic now causes 37% of nitrogen oxide emissions and 17% of particulate matter emissions in Germany. In the long term, Germany has the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 65% ​​by 2030 and becoming climate neutral by 2045.

Statistics show that although cars cause fewer emissions per kilometer, overall CO2 emissions have increased in recent years due to increasing mileage and larger vehicles. In 2023, passenger car mileage was around 7.5% higher than in 1995, despite technical advances. In order to say goodbye to the old emissions standards, the emotional and financial hurdles to purchasing new, clean cars must also be overcome.

Changes in the new registration market

If you look at new registrations, alternative drives, especially electric vehicles, are doing better than ever before. According to the Federal Motor Transport Authority, electric cars caused an impressive increase of 44.9% in May 2025 compared to the previous year. A total of 239,297 new vehicles were registered, of which 18% were electric cars. At the same time, there was a decline in conventional fuels: new registrations of gasoline and diesel vehicles fell more significantly than those of vehicles with alternative drives.

In summary, it can be said that Lower Saxony is on an exciting path when it comes to future mobility. The large differences in the vehicle fleet are not only a reflection of individual purchasing decisions, but also a sign of the challenges that society has to overcome in order to sustainably reduce emissions. The path is clear, but it remains exciting to see how Lower Saxony will continue on this path to become even more environmentally friendly.