Cars: European manufacturers ask Europe to relax the timetable for the end of combustion-engine cars

"The regulations are too rigid," and "we need to be more pragmatic," summarizes Sigrid de Vries, director general of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, an organization that defends the interests of a sector that accounts for 13 million direct and indirect jobs and produces 7% of European GDP.

This will be the third meeting in Brussels since the EU executive launched a "strategic dialogue" with the automotive industry earlier this year to help it adapt to the simultaneous challenges of electrification, competition and trade tensions.

Target 2035, but with “flexibilities”

As a sign that the EU is listening to their difficulties, manufacturers had already obtained the postponement of a CO2 emissions standard. But they are now focusing on the Commission's flagship measure: the EU ban on the sale of new cars and light commercial vehicles powered by gasoline or diesel, including hybrids, from 2035. This is a symbol of the ambitious measures of the European Green Deal, which was enacted in March 2023 despite German reluctance. This measure is increasingly contested by manufacturers, faced with stalling sales of electric models, strong Chinese competition, US customs duties, and plummeting global profits. They now have only one word on their lips: obtain "flexibilities" to switch to all-electric.

On Tuesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz gave them his support, calling from the Munich Motor Show for "intelligent, reliable, and flexible European regulations." The "flexibility" being sought could consist of giving manufacturers a few more years to meet the 2035 deadline, without jeopardizing the final objective. This way, manufacturers would not have to once again upend their strategies and reconsider the heavy investments they have already made to make the transition to all-electric, but would have more time to adapt.

Conversely, 150 companies active in the electric vehicle sector (manufacturers, battery manufacturers, charging operators, etc.) spoke out on Monday to defend the 2035 deadline. "Stand firm, don't back down," they pleaded in an open letter addressed to Ursula von der Leyen.

Road transport is responsible for more than 20% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions, according to European data. For William Todts, director of the NGO Transport & Environment, which is participating in this "strategic dialogue," the 2035 target is already bearing fruit. He cites proof of this in the fine array of European electric vehicles unveiled this week at the Munich Motor Show. "For the first time in ten years, the Germans can boast of being almost as good as the Chinese" in this segment, but "they do so only because of CO2 emission standards."

For her part, Ursula von der Leyen sent favorable signals to the sector in a speech on Wednesday to the European Parliament, confirming that she is considering a revision of the 2035 targets for low-emission vehicles (such as hybrids), which manufacturers would like to be able to continue selling beyond that date.

The leader also proposed an initiative for the development of "affordable, small electric vehicles" manufactured in Europe, without further details at this stage, and confirmed a budget of 1.8 billion euros to accelerate the production of electric batteries on the Old Continent.