Europe’s emissions regulations have caused concern among automakers in recent years; because the EU has strongly driven the sector towards electrification. Now Stellantis chairman John Elkann is backing a possible update to these rules, citing the current rules as a possible existential threat to European automakers.
In particular, the conglomerate’s executive was hoping the European Commission would relax carbon emissions rules when the European Union’s governing body presents updates to its regulations for 2035 on December 10. Currently, the rules state that new vehicles sold in the European Union must be zero-emission—that is, electric vehicles—by 2035, with progressive steps being brought forward until the 2035 milestone. However, a group of automakers have been trying to meet these targets for the past year. alarm about gives.
“There is another way to reduce emissions in Europe in a constructive and agreed way, restoring the growth and people’s needs we have lost,” Elkann said at the launch event for Fiat’s new 500 Hybrid model. He said harsh enforcement of such rules would risk an “irreversible decline” of the automotive industry in Europe.
Alternatively, this group of automakers has drafted its own proposals that still focus on reducing carbon emissions but take a softer approach: An emphasis on plug-in hybrids, range-extending technology and alternative fuels in this automaker-derived proposal, according to Reuters It is located. The proposal does not fully eliminate the zero-emission rule by 2035, but calls for hybrid powertrains to be allowed after 2035. Additionally, Elkann previously To the European Commission had lobbied to allow automakers to meet average targets over a five-year period from 2028 to 2032; It had removed some of the strict parameters (and associated penalties) from the existing EU scheme.
unions and automotive executives have previously warned that such strict enforcement of emissions regulations would threaten industry jobs. Stellantis stated that EU emissions rules would force it to close some factories; because of the supposed decline in electric vehicle sales and possible fines if it does not meet emissions targets. In particular, Stellantis managed to negotiate penalties that would be applied to missing emissions target targets in 2025 by demanding the average of its emissions credits over 2025–2027.
The launch of the Fiat 500 Hybrid is part of this good-natured virtue that Stellantis wants to demonstrate to EU regulators. The automaker’s proposals include focusing on small car production; This implies that small hybrids are more popular than battery electric vehicles but are still clean. The focus on small car production is of course also associated with positive results for unions.
“If we are allowed to win back our customers with great products like the 500 hybrid, we can certainly regain the growth that is necessary for future investment and innovation … supporting employment in Europe,” said Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa at the launch event.
A slightly more worrying element in the automaker’s mitigated emissions proposal concerns the alleged scrapping of aging vehicles on EU roads. Elkann had previously lobbied for a major scrappage initiative that would take many older (and supposedly less clean) vehicles off the road; The move would likely line Stellantis’ pockets with money forced to part with new buyers’ latest models. In any case, we will have to wait until December 10 to see how the negotiations between the European Commissions and automakers will turn out.
Automobile Magazine – English
