Europe's car makers call on EU to revise its environmental policies

CGTN Europe

Seeking carbon neutrality by 2050, the EU will fine manufacturers who don't hit reduced-CO2 targets – but manufacturers say this will affect EV sales. CGTN’s William Denselow reports.   Read this piece in full 👇 https://tinyurl.com/2p8xtxep   #EU #CarbonNeutrality

Transcript

00:00While some models can achieve 0-60 in under 3 seconds, car sales across Europe have been

00:06far from turbocharged. The Brussels Auto Show is a chance to drive demand, with the electric

00:12vehicle market in need of a major jolt. 2024 was a record year for global EV sales, but

00:19the European market fell by 3% on the previous year. Those that follow the market point to

00:26Europe's largest economy. It could be a bumpy road to the European Union's ultimate destination

00:46of carbon neutrality by 2050. By the end of the year, vehicles must produce 15% less CO2

00:53compared to 2021 levels, or face fines. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association's

01:00new president has penned a letter to the EU, calling these regulations an unhelpful roadblock.

01:07Very few forecasts predicted the current geopolitical and macroeconomic realities. Yet the majority

01:15of European political goals and guidelines are based on forecasts that have not materialised.

01:22The group is calling for a less rigid path to decarbonisation, one that's market and

01:27not penalty driven. Automakers warn that these penalties could hurt both competitiveness

01:34and innovation. That could mean delays in getting new concept vehicles like flying cars

01:42off the ground. Cars and light vehicles account for roughly 16% of the EU's total CO2 emissions.

01:50Some analysts believe strict targets are necessary to fuel sector-wide change. These

01:56rules will push our car makers to catch up. They will push them to produce more mass market

02:02electric vehicle models, and this will help the industry to become more globally competitive.

02:09While environmental groups are urging the European Union not to veer off track, European

02:13car makers are warning they'll fall behind in the global race for market share if the

02:19current regulations stand.

Category

Transcript

Recommended