Lower Saxony: Clean and dirty cars – an exciting study!

Lower Saxony: Clean and dirty cars – an exciting study!

In Lower Saxony there is a remarkable contrast when it comes to the types of vehicles on the roads. While some regions have the cleanest cars in Germany, other districts have the dirtiest. A study by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has now taken a closer look at this. The results reveal that the proportion of vehicles with outdated emissions standards, particularly Euro 1 to Euro 4, varies greatly depending on the registration district. While the highest proportion can be found in Wendland (Lüchow-Dannenberg) with 33.7%, the Nienburg and Salzgitter areas also have remarkable values ​​with around 30% each.

In a direct comparison, Wolfsburg impresses with its low numbers. Only 10.9% of vehicles there have old emissions standards, which is a figure that is unique in Germany. No other place in Germany can boast such a low proportion. This situation is due not least to the proximity and strong presence of Volkswagen (VW). In Wolfsburg there are also an impressive 973 cars per 1,000 inhabitants, which corresponds to more than one vehicle per adult. The city benefits from numerous new registrations, including special offers for VW employees when buying new cars.

Older emissions standards in comparison

A further look at the new registrations nationwide shows that the emissions standards in other parts of the country also show significant differences. According to the KBA statistics, there were remarkable figures in May 2025: around 81.6% of new registrations correspond to the Euro 6 standard, but this value fell by 5% compared to the previous year. The market itself has generally developed in a stable manner; a total of 239,297 new cars were registered, which corresponds to a slight increase of 1.2%.

• Benzin: 67.921 (28,4%), -24,1% gegenüber Mai 2024
• Diesel: 35.106 (14,7%), -21,8%
• Hybrid: 92.171 (38,5%), +29,0%
• Elektro (BEV): 43.060 (18,0%), +44,9%

These figures show that alternative drives, especially electric cars, are becoming increasingly important. After all, the share of electric vehicles represents an increase of 44.9% compared to the previous year. Experts point out that income and purchasing power could play a significant role in the decision to buy new and cleaner vehicles. In this context, the question remains as to how Germans' driving behavior affects transport emissions and what contribution the transport sector can make to climate neutrality.

Traffic and emissions

The transport sector in Germany is facing a particular challenge: While the overall number of CO2 emissions is to be massively reduced since 1990, transport still releases a significant amount of greenhouse gases. In 2023 it was 22% of all emissions, of which 37% nitrogen oxides and 17% fine dust can be attributed to traffic. These alarming values ​​make it clear that despite technical improvements and falling kilometer-related emissions, absolute CO2 values ​​have continued to rise due to increasing mileage and larger vehicles.

In summary, it can be said that the dynamics on the German automobile market are changing significantly. While old emissions standards are still widespread in some regions, other cities such as Wolfsburg show what a modern vehicle fleet can look like. The coming period will be crucial in determining how emissions can be further reduced and what role alternative drives will play in the future.