Stockholm (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Leaders from Europe’s electric vehicle sector on Wednesday urged the European Commission to adhere to its 2035 zero-emission goal for new cars, cautioning that any rollback could harm investment and increase the EU’s gap with China.
As reported, the European Commission plans to introduce an automotive package on December 16, which may offer greater flexibility regarding CO2 targets and potentially soften or delay the ban on new combustion-engine car sales starting in 2035.
This initiative is supported by German automakers and the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.
In an open letter addressed to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the campaign groups E-Mobility Europe and ChargeUp Europe—supported by nearly 200 signatories including Swedish automakers Polestar and Volvo Cars—urged for the targets to be maintained, Reuters reported.
What concerns did EV groups raise in their letter?
“We are deeply concerned about recent efforts to dilute your objectives,”
the letter mentioned this, citing vigorous lobbying by the broader auto industry.
The groups noted that reintroducing transitional technologies like plug-in hybrids and CO2-neutral fuels could cause uncertainty and hinder the transition to electric vehicles, despite Chinese electric automakers advancing rapidly and reducing costs.
“Every delay in Europe only widens the gap with China,”
it also said.
Why is the European Commission reassessing its 2035 goal?
Reuters reported two days ago that the European Union has postponed the release of key proposals for the auto industry by a week. The European Commission confirmed on Monday that these proposals could weaken the 2035 ban on new CO2-emitting cars.
Earlier, a draft Commission agenda indicated that the bloc planned to delay the release of its automotive package and expand its pioneering carbon border tariff to cover washing machines and other manufactured goods.
The 2035 vehicle emissions policy is under close scrutiny by car manufacturers and governments like Germany and Italy. They are advocating for the EU to permit the ongoing sale of plug-in hybrids and combustion-engine vehicles that utilize so-called CO2-neutral fuels, such as those produced from crops or waste.
Some EU officials indicated that the auto proposals might be postponed further, potentially until 2026.
Guido Guidesi, the Italian minister responsible for economic development in Lombardy’s auto industry-dependent region, stated that such actions would only increase uncertainty for car manufacturers.
“Further postponements and delays are unacceptable, because we are out of time – millions of jobs and entire industries are at risk,”
he said in a statement.
