Europe's Zero Emission Targets Are "No Longer Feasible"
Europe’s plan to ban tailpipe emissions from new cars by 2035 could be on the verge of changing.
Key Points
- Mercedes-Benz and supplier Schaeffler warned the EU’s 2030 and 2035 CO₂ reduction targets for cars and vans are “no longer feasible” given supply chain, cost, and infrastructure challenges.
- The executives called for a broader approach that includes plug-in hybrids, hydrogen, efficient combustion engines, and alternative fuels alongside EVs.
- The letter comes ahead of a September 12 meeting between EU leaders and automakers, as political pressure grows to reconsider or delay the planned 2035 combustion-engine ban.
In a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the heads of the region’s largest automaker and one of its major suppliers said the targets are “simply no longer feasible” under current conditions.
According to a new report from Reuters, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius and Matthias Zink, CEO of powertrain and chassis at Schaeffler AG, argued that automakers and suppliers face a host of challenges that make the 2030 and 2035 deadlines unrealistic.
These include heavy reliance on Asia for batteries, slow deployment of charging infrastructure, higher production costs in Europe, and fresh U.S. tariffs on vehicles exported across the Atlantic.
The EU currently requires a 55% cut in CO₂ emissions for new cars by 2030 and a 100% cut by 2035, effectively banning combustion engines. But with EVs only accounting for about 15% of new car sales across Europe—and vans at just 9%—industry leaders argue the timeline doesn't represent realistic market realities.
Källenius and Zink are urging Brussels to broaden its approach, leaving space for plug-in hybrids, range extenders, hydrogen, decarbonized fuels, and more efficient combustion engines alongside EVs. They also called for a review of truck and bus CO₂ rules, pointing out that heavy-duty sectors face similar hurdles.
Von der Leyen is scheduled to meet with automotive executives in early September to discuss the future of the industry, adding weight to the growing political pressure within Europe to reconsider the 2035 deadline. Some lawmakers are already calling for a change to the combustion-engine ban. Within the context of change, it starts to make a little more sense why the U.S. and the EU are considering adopting each other's emissions and safety regulations.
The automakers stressed that they remain committed to the EU’s 2050 net-zero target, but warned that legal mandates and penalties alone will not drive the transition. It's a critical time for Europe's top automakers as they face a global market challenged by Chinese EV imports and delineated by American trade barriers.
Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.
An experienced automotive storyteller and accomplished photographer known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge—he was part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic, oversaw a fleet of Audi TCR race cars, ziptied Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars back together, been over the wall during the Rolex 24, and worked in the intense world of IndyCar.
More by Michael Accardi
Comments
Join the conversation
Well this might be one of the biggest 'duh' things of this century. Anyone who thought we would be 100% EV by 2030 or even 2035 is seriously stupid and deserves the financial ruin for pushing this nonsense. I doubt it would even happen in 2050. The majority of the world's electrical grid cannot sustain or handle everyone owning EVs. Period. That's a fact, not an opinion.