Lower Saxony: Dirty and clean cars in a big comparison!

Lower Saxony: Dirty and clean cars in a big comparison!

There are striking differences in the vehicle fleet in Lower Saxony, as a current study by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) reveals. The state has both the cleanest and dirtiest cars on the road. The large variance in emissions standards is particularly noticeable: While in Wendland, especially in the Lüchow-Dannenberg district, the proportion of vehicles with old emissions standards (Euro 1 to Euro 4) is 33.7 percent, in Wolfsburg it is only 10.9 percent, which makes the city a model region when it comes to new emissions standards.

These differences are reflected not only in the number of old vehicles, but also in the type of new registrations. According to the statistics on new registrations of passenger cars by fuel type, the trend continues in Lower Saxony. A total of 239,297 cars were newly registered in May 2025, of which 67,921 were petrol vehicles and 35,106 were diesel. In contrast, hybrid models are enjoying growing popularity with 92,171 new registrations and electric cars, with 43,060 new registrations, are recording a remarkable increase of 44.9 percent compared to the previous year.

Volkswagen as an innovation engine

The city of Wolfsburg is a prime example of the success of new drive technologies. Here, the aftereffects of the automobile industry have a clear impact on the population's choice of vehicle. The Volkswagen company offers special conditions for employees when purchasing new cars, which means that the modern vehicle fleet is constantly growing. Statistically, there are 973 cars per 1,000 inhabitants in Wolfsburg, a sign of the high demand for new and more environmentally friendly vehicles.

The values ​​in the area around Braunschweig are also remarkable: here the proportion of new emissions standards is 21 percent. In addition, Wolfsburg not only leads in the number of modern cars, but also in electric cars, where 77.2 percent of new registrations meet the Euro 6 standard. This shows how important modern drive technologies are for Lower Saxony and the steering of purchasing decisions.

Emissions in focus

But the challenges are great. Germany has set itself the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 65 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 and is aiming for climate neutrality by 2045. The transport sector plays a key role in this, as its share of total emissions has increased from 13 percent in 1990 to 22 percent in 2023. In 2023, transport accounted for 37 percent of nitrogen oxide emissions and 17 percent of particulate matter emissions, not only polluting air quality in cities but also complicating efforts to reduce emissions.

The analysis also shows that, despite reduced kilometer-related CO2 emissions due to improved engine technologies, absolute emissions from car traffic increased overall by 2019 due to larger vehicles and increasing mileage. In recent years it has become clear that daily traffic and increasing mileage continue to be a challenge that needs to be overcome.

In summary, it can be said that Lower Saxony, especially in urban regions such as Wolfsburg, is on the right track to establishing a clean and modern vehicle fleet. Nevertheless, the challenge remains to significantly reduce emissions in the transport sector in order to meet the goals of German environmental policy.