The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced that the automotive industry will have three additional years to meet CO2 emissions reduction targets. This measure will allow manufacturers to avoid the fines scheduled for 2025 for failing to comply with current regulations.
Von der Leyen also revealed the intention to provide direct support to European electric battery producers, recognizing the challenge the European Union faces in this area. The Commission President's proposal was well received by the automotive industry, which has expressed concern about maintaining competitiveness against the United States and China.
Current regulations establish that cars sold in 2025 must emit 15% less CO2 than in 2021, a target that will increase to 55% by 2030 and 100% by 2035. To avoid fines, the industry proposes different ways to account for emissions.
The plan presented by Von der Leyen must be accepted by both the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. The President of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), Ola Källenius, considered the proposal positive, although he pointed out that it is necessary to continue accelerating the transition to zero-emission mobility.
Among the proposed measures are the acceleration of the deployment of autonomous driving, subsidies for reducing CO2 emissions, and the gradual introduction of European requirements for components and battery sales. In addition, collaboration between companies in the sector for the production of chips for autonomous vehicles is proposed.
