Porsche peeved over congestion charge hike

Porsche is up in arms over London's congestion charge hike, and is considering launching a legal challenge.

The move by Mayor Ken Livingstone will see the charge increased from £8 to £25 for the highest-polluting vehicles.

It includes vehicles emitting more than 225 grams of carbon dioxide per one kilometre, as well as those registered before March 2001 which have engines larger than 3,000cc, and will be introduced on October 27 this year.

Car company Porsche said it believes the increase is "unfair" and is making an application for judicial review of the decision.

Andy Goss, managing director of Porsche Cars GB, said: "A massive congestion charge increase is quite simply unjust. Thousands of car owners driving a huge range of cars will be hit by a disproportionate tax which is clear will have a very limited effect on CO2 emissions.

"Not only is this rise completely unfair to many drivers, but it will also damage London based-businesses of all sizes, and successful people from across the world will start to think twice about basing themselves here if they think they are going to be used as cash cows for City Hall (Mr Livingstone's headquarters)."

Mr Goss added: "The proposed increase will be bad for London as a whole and will send out the signal that it is not serious about establishing itself as the best place in the world to do business."

Porsche said it will be writing to Mr Livingstone this week and that he will then have 14 days to respond to the company.

"If the Mayor fails to respond to Porsche's letter or refuses to reconsider his plans, Porsche intends formally to submit its application for judicial review at the Royal Courts of Justice", the company said.

Of cars currently being driven in the congestion charging zone, 17 per cent would be liable for the new £25 charge.

Just 2 per cent of vehicles would be entitled to a total discount, which covers those which emit less than 120g/km.

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