Changes Coming

There are two significant changes coming in Germany over the next couple of years and will be effective in some way as of 1 January 2018.

First, there's this German federal standard for winter tires being established.  New tires to be sold in Germany for winter purposes must have a Alpine symbol....basically a snowflake in front of a hill or mountain (depending on your view).  You will have until the end of September  2024....to have this type of winter tire.  As of October 2024, if you use winter tires with the old symbology....it's a fine.

Better profiles?  That's the general suggestion.  The tire folks spend a fair amount of money to research and find the perfect winter tire.  The government intends to herd folks toward the better tires.

The second item that is being pushed down....e-Call is now mandatory on new cars as of 1 April 2018.  It will consist of a GPS receiver and a mobile radio instrument.  So if you get into trouble....you push the button, and someone will react.

Something that people demanded?  No.  If you ask most Germans, the response will be that they will cooperate but it's something that most probably won't ever use (at least they think that). 

Will the e-Call work in highly remote areas?  Well....no one says this to be guaranteed.  I think it will be a shock to the federal folks pushing this, if you find that it only works in approximately 80-percent of the country.  I can think of some areas in the Hunsruck where it probably won't work.