The ADAC automobile club warned that the fuel‑price regulation the German federal government plans to introduce-modeled on Austria’s system-could be counterproductive and ultimately lead to higher prices. Christian Laberer, the ADAC’s fuel‑market expert, told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland that oil companies might raise prices from the outset because they would no longer be able to adjust them during the day. This could push the average fuel price higher than it is today.
Laberer added that, outside the current crisis situation, Germany’s existing fuel‑pricing system is more consumer‑friendly. By comparing prices and following the usual daily patterns, motorists can often find cheaper fuel than under a regulatory scheme-especially in the evenings when prices tend to drop. Morning rates, on the other hand, are typically higher and are best avoided. The ADAC also noted that Austria’s lower fuel prices are mainly due to lower taxes and duties, not the price‑regulation model.
