The EPP supports von der Leyen’s automotive Plan, while the other Eurochamber groups remain critical

“The Green Deal goals remain, but with more flexibility for the automotive industry and without penalizing the sector”. These are the concepts with which the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced the “Action Plan” for the automotive sector.

No stop to thermal engines from 2035, but more incentives for the purchase, leasing and electrification of company fleets. At the heart of the Action Plan is also the choice to extend the calculation of CO2 emission targets to three years, not just one as before. This decision grants more flexibility to companies regarding fines and aims to give more breathing space to the automotive sector. Meanwhile, the limit on grams of CO2 emitted per kilometer driven at the fleet level remains set at 93.6 grams.

“There is so much untapped potential at the global market when it comes to innovation and clean solutions. I want to see our European automotive industry taking the lead. We will promote domestic production to avoid strategic dependencies, especially for battery production – explained von der Leyen – We will stick to our agreed emissions targets, but with a pragmatic and flexible approach. Our mutual aim is a sustainable, competitive, and innovative European car industry that benefits our citizens, economy, and environment.”

The Action Plan does not currently include allocating new resources taken from EU coffers. Still, it ensures 1 billion euros for the automotive sector between 2025 and 2027 with funds from the Horizon Europe research program.

“The future of Europe’s automotive industry must be competitive, connected, and clean. With this Action Plan, we are taking decisive steps to strengthen Europe’s industrial base, accelerate digitalisation, and drive clean mobility. Our goal is clear: to ensure that the next generation of vehicles is not just made in Europe, but innovated in Europe, powered by European technology, and built on European values – underlined the Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas – The 2035 targets are still there, but more flexibility is granted”.

An issue, that of the Action Plan for the automotive sector, was also debated this week in Strasbourg during the plenary session of the European Parliament. Von der Leyen’s plan was welcomed by the Epp, with Italian MEP Massimiliano Salini who stressed that “on the issue of fines, the Commission is intervening well and we support it, but be careful not to focus all the debate on engines: the issue of autonomous driving, for example, has not been addressed throughout this period.” More critical are the other groups in the Eurochamber. “Innovation and change should not be blocked. I see only two winners in this decision: companies that lag behind and look only at short-term earnings and China, which already leads the global electric vehicle market” stated Mohammed Chahin from S&D.
“It’s good to support social leasing, electric charging stations and professional vehicles, but let’s not step back and invest for a strategy focused on eco-mobility,” underlined Majdouline Sbai from the Greens. “We expected more, alright with the postponement of fines, but we also were expecting a postponement of penalties for what concerns heavy vehicles,” added Carlo Fidanza from Ecr.