Major carmakers in the EU are calling on the European Union to reconsider the planned ban on sales of internal-combustion-engine vehicles. At the same time, they are urging policymakers to promote hydrogen vehicles, hybrids and low-carbon fuels as alternative pathways to meeting net-zero targets.
In a letter to the European Commission, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) and the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) argue that a heavy reliance on Asian supply chains, inadequate infrastructure and geopolitical trade barriers make the target practically unfeasible.
The letter – signed by the CEOs of Mercedes-Benz and the Schaeffler Group – was made public ahead of the meeting between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and senior figures from the automotive sector on 12 September. That meeting will address the future of Europe’s car industry, which faces mounting pressure from China’s EV push and US tariffs.
European vehicle makers and suppliers are calling on the Commission to adopt regulatory flexibility that recognises a broad range of alternatives – including hydrogen fuel-cell cars and trucks, plug-in hybrids, and engines running on decarbonised fuels.
You can read the full text of the letter to Ursula von der Leyen here.
