BMW has joined the growing row over diesel by attacking the Government for its negative stance on the fuel. As the German manufacturer launches its new 3-series diesel, Kevin Gaskell, managing director of BMW GB, joined Ford, Peugeot, Citroen and Volkswagen, which have already entered the fray over diesel.

At this year's London Motor Show, Peugeot managing director Tod Evans blasted the Government over diesel, claiming that it was the 'real technology of the future'. The Government is basing VED on carbon dioxide emissions from next year and will use it as the basis for company car tax from 2002, which should raise demand for oil-burners because their good fuel economy means low emissions of the greenhouse gas, which will help it meet its international commitment to cut emissions.

Gaskell threw the German car maker's weight to the argument, saying: 'Progress on emissions has been enormous. In 1980, cars produced 15 times the pollution of a modern petrol or diesel vehicle. Four fifths of our engineers are devoted to emissions reduction. I applaud Evans for having the strength to reignite the debate over diesel. If we stand a chance of meeting the CO2 targets, diesel has a role to play.'