German Car Industry Demands the EU Guts Its CO2 Law, Despite Climate Consequences - CleanTechnica

The German car industry, represented by the VDA, is pushing the European Union to weaken its 2035 climate target for vehicle emissions, seeking exemptions for plug-in hybrids and incentives for low-carbon fuels. This comes after the industry previously opposed the 2025 EU target despite rising electric vehicle (EV) sales in Germany. If the EU accedes to these demands, carbon emissions from cars in Europe could increase by 0.5 to 1.4 gigatons, up to 31% more than current targets, according to Transport & Environment (T&E) analysis. T&E criticizes the industry’s proposal as a strategic move to undermine the EU’s climate goals, warning it would reduce battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales to between 44% and 69% by 2035, far below the current 100% target. This rollback would damage market certainty and investor confidence, particularly in battery and charging infrastructure, hindering Europe’s efforts to build resilience in the EV sector. T&E emphasizes that the global automotive market is moving toward electrification regardless, and weakening the EU’s standards risks leaving its auto industry behind. The EU Commission is currently under pressure to review the 2035 law earlier than planned, following a delay in the 2025 target.