Carmakers survive politicians' backlash

Brussels

INTENSE lobbying by Europe's car manufacturers helped to save a compromise that will let them exceed European Union (EU) pollution targets for now, but the narrowness of their victory in the European Parliament shows that politicians are running out of patience.

Green and Liberal lawmakers said the compromise, which would allow diesel cars to exceed permitted levels of deadly pollutants by 50 per cent, had prioritised saving jobs above saving lives.