London mayor rejects Porsche's congestion complaint

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - London Mayor Ken Livingstone has written to luxury car maker Porsche rejecting its demand to scrap plans for a 25-pound ($50) congestion charge for so-called gas-guzzling cars in the city's center.

The mayor, speaking at his last weekly press meeting before standing for re-election on May 1, said on Monday that he will vigorously contest any legal action against his plans.

"The CO2 charge is about reducing CO2 emissions from cars driving in central London," he said.

"It is quite clear motorists have the choice not to drive a high CO2-emitting car in central London, given the wide range of lower emitting cars available."

Porsche last month said it proposed to challenge the "unfair" charge, arguing it would not cut emissions and would deter businesses from moving to London.

The daily tax on vehicles emitting 225 grams or more of carbon dioxide per kilometer would apply in the same way as the existing 8-pound charge does to all but the cleanest cars.

Porsche said it intends to make a submission to the courts for a judicial review if Livingstone refuses to reconsider.

The court could force a delay, alteration or even a rejection of the plan.

"Porsche should focus their attentions on cutting CO2 emissions from the cars they produce, rather than pursuing this pointless legal action which we will vigorously contest," Livingstone said.