In the dialogue with representatives of the auto industry, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (66) announced an action plan to support European carmakers. In view of the crisis on the European market, the Leyen declared the car industry as a chief inner matter and invited various industry representatives to talks in Brussels on Thursday. “The European automotive industry is at one crucial point,” said von der Leyen. “We are aware of the challenges that she faces”.
According to its own statements, the Commission expects the first results of the dialogue that had now started. EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas (46) is to present an action plan for the auto industry on March 5, in which the results of the autogiputel are recorded.
Carmakers are disagreed
The so -called fleet limit values are among other things in the center of the Brussels auto -summit. They determine how much carbon dioxide newly produced vehicles can at most out and have been screwed down at the beginning of the year. But the European carmakers disagree: several manufacturers, including Volkswagen and Renaultare currently not on course for the reduced limit values. They therefore face high fines.
Other car manufacturers like BMW Or the Stellatis Group, to the Fiat, Bangot and Opel Distribution, however, reject a softening of the EU rules because they are sufficiently prepared. “The system has to be fair, because some have already invested and are successful in keeping the goals,” said the Leyen on Wednesday. However, the EU also needs “the necessary level of flexibility and pragmatism,” she added.
In this context, the Association of the German Automotive Industry (VDA) called for the fleet limit values for the next two years and not to take into account some of the vehicles in the invoice. In Brussels, the association is also committed to allowing cars with combustion engines even after 2035.
From the Leyen wants to stick to climate goals
Environmentalists practice sharp criticism of the suggestions. “The auto industry launched a major attack on CO₂ requirements for cars, said the managing director of the environmental organization Transport & Environment, William Todts. He accused the manufacturers of just wanting to avoid fines. “They have hardly made any suggestions on how to boost the market for electric vehicles in Europe,” he added. Von der Leyen had repeatedly emphasized in the past few days that the Commission has held on to the climate goals from its past legislative period.
The conversations with car manufacturers and suppliers are also about a possible trade dispute with the new US president Donald Trump (78) that the manufacturers want to avoid. Another topic is the EU tariffs on electric cars China, against which several manufacturers, including BMW and Tesla, filed a lawsuit in front of the European Court of Justice.