Auto industry: Why the EU proves to be a bear service

Today, led by the German President Ursula von der Leyen, the EU Commission presents its “action plan for the automotive industry”. That sounds good at first: Brussels does something to give the auto industry new swing in the transformation of the industry for electromobility. But the impression is deceptive: In truth, the avenged goals pose the risk that VW, Audi, Porsche, BMW and Mercedes will not move in the market.

It is particularly fatal for the car manufacturers that Ursula von der Leyen releases her from a strict obligation to protect climate protection. The providers have known since 2022 that their new vehicles are only almost 81 grams of CO this year₂ are allowed to emit (called: Co₂-Fleet limit) -15 percent less than in the past few years since 2020. The limit is part of the “Green Deals” of the EU, which aims to make Europe climate -neutral by 2050. Now the Christian Democrat wants to give the manufacturers more time to the new CO₂-to implement specifications.

A short -sighted present. Firstly, the head of the commission sends a wrong signal to the industry. She explains her ideas salbingly, “planning and fairness for the pioneers who have successfully done their homework”. But of all things, the German auto industry did not do its homework. She preferred to continue to tinker with strong marst SUVs that throw a lot, but drive up the fleet limit instead of bringing power-friendly electricity to the market.

Now Ursula von der Leyen acts like a German education politician: If the grades are too bad, you simply lower the requirements for the students.

Second criticism: The Commission President unnecessarily reduces the pressure of innovation, which has always made the German auto industry very strong, for example in the introduction of the catalyst. Peter Mock, European Managing Director of the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), says that he has already had the violent resistance of the industry against new CO₂-experienced, 2014 and 2019. Both times, the car manufacturers would have kept the goals without any problems. The journal “Auto Motor und Sport” was also very optimistic about the new limit 2025: “The work, except for VW and Renault with Dacia, probably most companies. Even Mercedes should just slip through the target window.”

Third: With VW and Co., the feeling could creep in, they could still rest a little further. You have to go full throttle in order to quickly become the best class in the billion dollar business of e-mobility. Every day counts, because the market is currently not dominated by EU companies, but by Chinese and Americans, cheered on by their state autocrats. They do not complain, but deliver, pull up e-car and battery tapes in rows worldwide. BYD sold globally over four million electric cars in 2024, Tesla almost 1.8 million. After further Chinese, BMW only follows fifth with modest 535,000 vehicles.

There is a fourth point: the fleet limit 2030 becomes really violent – unless it is collected again. Then only 45.9 g/km are allowed. That means arithmetical: This year, around 55 percent of new vehicles have to drive purely electrically. The manufacturers would have to work long ago on this EU specification (and not the 2025) if they take the Green Deal seriously, which they keep saying. VW, for example, would now have to do everything possible to launch its Volksstromer ID.2 and ID.1 faster than 2026 or 2027, instead of making the balance sheets with more burners and hybrids for its shareholders.

You can also get something good from the action plan. This is how he provides grants from the EU climate fund to facilitate the leasing of electric cars (social leasing program). There should also be a law to make e-mobility more tasty. 570 million euros should also flow into the structure of the charging infrastructure. Everything is good and beautiful, but does not help against the price attacks of the Chinese.

Parliament and Council still have to agree to the action plan. It can be expected that even more concessions for the old auto industry and against climate protection will be requested there. Because Europe has moved far to the right. Conservatives and right-wing parties who have nothing to do with climate change were the winners at the European elections 2024. The rights want to abolish the fleet limit values ​​completely. Michael Bloss, green energy expert in the EU Parliament, thinks this is a real danger. He criticizes that the Commission is on the brake: “Instead of investing and modernizing, we stick to old technologies and also lose our competitiveness towards the competitors.”

Ursula von der Leyen is already introducing the next braking process: the possible shift of the ban for non -emission -free new cars (incorrectly called “burner ban”), which is due to come in 2035. She calls this “open technology”. In truth, she uses the climate owm with petrol in the blood, which wish that everything stays as long as possible. The Green Deal is on the brink. This will be the softening of the CO₂-Specifications in the traffic sector are too clearly.