Cars, EU ready to bring forward emissions review
The European Commission has promised representatives of car manufacturers to bring forward 'as soon as possible' (end of 2025 is mentioned) the review of EU legislation, currently scheduled for 2026. Brussels intends to focus on technology neutrality to broaden the spectrum of cars that can be put on the market after 2035
from our correspondent Beda Romano
3' min read
3' min read
BRUSSELS - Under pressure from the business community, the European Commission announced yesterday that it intends to bring forward its planned review of the controversial regulation on harmful car emissions, currently scheduled for 2026. The announcement came during a conference that brought together the EU authorities and major European car manufacturers here in Brussels. The sector is in dire straits, caught between fierce competition from China and ambitious environmental targets.
The round table, the third dedicated to the situation in the sector, was held behind closed doors. According to the entourage of Single Market Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné, the European Commission has promised the representatives of the car manufacturers to bring forward 'as soon as possible' the review of EU legislation on car emissions. There is talk of the end of 2025. The announcement was in the air and responds to the concerns of the manufacturing world.
The car show held in Munich over the past few days highlighted the growing concerns of companies in the sector. Sensitive to the demands of German manufacturers, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: 'We don't want to limit ourselves to a single solution, we want there to be competition between the best ideas and the best technologies'. At the same time, 150 companies in the electric vehicle sector took to the field on Monday to defend the 2035 deadline.
In a tweet on X yesterday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added: 'We want (...) the cars of the future to be made in Europe'. Recalling the initiatives taken so far, the former German minister added: 'We will combine decarbonisation with technological neutrality. At a time when technology is transforming mobility and geopolitics is redefining global competition, we cannot work as business as usual'.
When examining and then possibly revising the regulation on harmful emissions from cars, which was approved in 2023, the European Commission wants to focus on technological neutrality in order to broaden the spectrum of cars that can be put on the market after 2035. So not only electric, zero-emission cars, but possibly also those that run on synthetic and biofuels or are equipped with hybrid engines.
