The EU to Cancel the Ban on Selling New Fuel Cars from 2035? A Victory for Germany
A senior member of the European Parliament said on the 13th that the European Commission will cancel the plan to ban the sale of new fuel cars starting from 2035. This move is undoubtedly a major victory for Germany.
Reuters reported: The chairman of the largest parliamentary group in the European Parliament, "European People's Party" (EPP), Weber (Manfred Weber) released a statement earlier, revealing that the EU may adopt an alternative solution, requiring car manufacturers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 90% from 2035, instead of completely banning the use of internal combustion engines.
This proposed ban has been one of the core policies of the EU in promoting decarbonization and accelerating the development of electric vehicles. However, the EU leadership has recently faced strong lobbying pressure, especially from Germany and its automotive industry, emphasizing the heavy pressure that European car manufacturers are facing amid fierce competition from China.
Manfred Weber, chairman of the largest parliamentary group in the European Parliament, "European People's Party" (EPP), stated at a press conference in Heidelberg that on Tuesday, the 16th, the European Commission will present a clear proposal to abolish the ban on using internal combustion engines. He also advocated that market and consumers should decide how to achieve climate goals.
Central News Agency analysis suggests: Weber's remarks echo the position of German automakers Mercedes-Benz and BMW, but contradict the views of car manufacturers such as Swedish Volvo Cars, which have heavily invested in electrification. The latter believe that if the EU policy makes a sudden turn, it would be a betrayal.
Erik Severinson, business chief of Volvo Cars, told Reuters that if the EU policy shifts, it would weaken the industry's confidence in future regulatory frameworks.
The European Commission is expected to explain the relevant plans on the 16th, but stated that it will not comment on any proposals before they are officially announced.
The German government has been actively lobbying to overturn the ban, worried that under the pressure of Asian competitors accelerating their entry into Europe and the United States, and with import tariffs hitting hard, German domestic car manufacturers would face greater pressure.
German Chancellor Merz (Friedrich Merz) wrote to European Commission President von der Leyen (Ursula von der Leyen) last month, pointing out that the demand for electric vehicles has not reached the expectations of the industry, and car manufacturers need more policy flexibility.
He wrote: "A large part of the European automotive industry, including Germany, especially the supply chain industry, is in a very difficult economic situation. Therefore, we must quickly revise the institutional framework in Europe to ensure that this industry still has a future in Europe."
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1851437177197576/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.