Il 2025 it starts in a few weeks and it will be a crucial year for car manufacturers. Anyone who exceeds the new limit set by Brussels on average CO2 emissions from cars will be forced to pay Europe very heavy fines, in the order of 95 euros for each gram of CO2 exceeding the limit imposed for each group, all multiplied by the number of cars sold in a year in the European Union markets.
The impact of the fines on the entire auto industry could reach 15 billion eurosaccording to figures cited by Renault CEO Luca de Meo. So today, ahead of the Competitiveness Council on Thursday 28 November, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) urged EU member states to put aside their differences and agree on the most urgent measure: reduce compliance costs al 2025.
The environmental objective remains
In calling for lower fines, the auto industry reiterated its commitment to the goal of climate neutrality of the EU by 2050 and the transition to zero-emission mobility. “However, as the clock ticks to 2025, manufacturers face increasing challenges in meeting CO2 reduction targets due to weak demand for battery electric vehicles and a deteriorating economic climate,” the note reads.
Sigrid de VriesDirector General of ACEA (representing the 15 major European-based car, van, truck and bus manufacturers), said:
“Manufacturers alone are bearing the brunt of a transformation hampered by factors beyond their control, such as inadequate charging infrastructure and insufficient purchasing incentives.”
Ensure resilience
According to ACEA it is encouraging to see EU Member States discuss concrete options and practicable to relieve immediate and “disproportionate” pressure on compliance, such as introducing multi-year compliance periods or allowing the accumulation and lending of carbon credits over years.
However, the reduction of fines for 2025 remains urgent, “keeping the transformation of green mobility firmly on track”. This is essential “to ensure the resilience of the EU vehicle sector”, writes the ACEA, a sector which alone represents more than 7.5% of European GDP; employs 13.2 million people (10.3% of all manufacturing jobs in the EU) and generates 383.7 billion euros of tax revenue for European governments.
Source: it.motor1.com
