Hamburg coalition seeks nationwide ban on artificial engine sounds in electric cars

Hamburg's ruling coalition of Social Democrats and Greens is preparing a proposal to ban the use of artificially generated engine sounds in electric cars across Germany, saying such noise is superfluous. According to transport policy spokesman Ole Thorben Buschhüter, progress should lower overall traffic noise, especially in densely populated urban areas. While acknowledging the necessity of low-speed acoustic alerts for pedestrian safety, the coalition argues that additional sounds imitating combustion engines are redundant.

The draft resolution, aimed at the federal council, also seeks tighter measures against "autoposing" and intentional noise creation by drivers. Hamburg already operates a specialized police unit to address noisy driving, but the coalition wants clearer federal rules. The proposal aligns with existing EU rules that require acoustic warning systems on new electric and hybrid vehicles since 2021.