The European Union has approved the end of sales of thermal motors from 2035. This decision went through despite industry associations such as the influential German (VDA) and European (ACEA) trying to reduce the 100% target to 90%.
However, some manufacturers, especially those already stuck in an irreversible process of electrification, welcome this move. The Volkswagen Group, for example, said in a statement a day after the plenary vote that “the goal is ambitious but achievable, and the only technologically, ecologically and economically responsible way to replace combustion engines as quickly as possible”.
The German consortium has allocated 10,000 million euros to its zero-emissions strategy in Spainincluding the assembly of 100% electric urban models at its factories in Martorell (Barcelona) and Landaben (Navarra), as well as the construction of a gigafactory with a capacity of 40 Gwh per year that will be operational from 2025.
However, the group declined to promise at the latest climate summit in Glasgow (COP26) that all its models would be zero-emissions by 2040, claiming that this would depend on market and consumer preferences, a position it shares with Toyota. On the other hand, Mercedes-Benz did agree with that horizon.
When it comes to the decision of 2035, the premium manufacturer positioned itself in favor. “We are already prepared for full electrification by 2030 in those markets that allow it and now it is the legislator who must ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to meet the demand.”
For the manufacturers association, whose chairman is the CEO of BMW,
Oliver ZipseThe biggest concern is that “MPs have set goals in stone that fail to account for industry uncertainties.”
According to Zipse herself, “any regulation after this decade is premature and a transparent review is needed halfway through the process so that targets can be defined after 2030.”
According to the environmental group
Transport & Environment (T&E), “We need to focus even more on the 2035 targets and avoid false solutions such as synthetic fuels. Allowing it would be a significant drag on the decarbonisation goal of mobility.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
