Italy and Germany are teaming up to urge the European Union to relax CO2 emissions standards for cars and reconsider the 2035 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel models. Italian industry minister Adolfo Urso stated that the ban on tailpipe emissions by 2035 is certain to not be achieved and is calling for a review of the legislation to be brought forward to early 2025. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has also raised concerns about the unrealistic targets, citing a decrease in electric car sales and a lack of infrastructure and incentives for zero-emission vehicles.
The EU currently requires carmakers to meet emissions targets, with stricter limits set to come into effect next year. However, the industry is struggling to comply due to various factors such as infrastructure and market trends favoring larger SUV models. ACEA is calling for urgent relief measures to avoid facing multi-billion-euro fines.
The European Commission believes that the industry still has time to adapt and meet the targets, but the automotive lobby is pushing for a review of the regulations to potentially allow the continued registration of cars running on synthetic ‘low-carbon’ fuels. Other sectors, such as battery manufacturers, are urging the EU to stick to its current targets to accelerate the electrification of Europe’s energy system.
The debate highlights the challenges facing the automotive industry as it transitions towards more sustainable practices. It remains to be seen how the EU will respond to calls for relaxing emissions standards and potentially postponing the ban on petrol and diesel models in light of industry concerns.
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