Germany planning spot checks for car emissions

Germany wants to carry out unannounced emissions tests on all carmakers, said transport minister Alexander Dobrindt, aiming to reinstate confidence in the industry that was shattered by the Volkswagen cheating scandal.

“There will be controls on vehicles in the style of doping tests [for athletes],” Mr Dobrindt told the newspaper Bild. “Unannounced and every year.”

One way to carry out the random tests would be to select models from car rental companies, the newspaper said. Technicians who carry out the tests would be rotated to ensure transparency.