We can be sure of one thing: if there is a way to hurt ourselves, Europe will hardly let it slip away. And when it comes to the automotive dossier, Brussels’ self-destructive vocation reaches epic heights. Further confirmation came from the legislation that from 2035 will impose a ban on diesel and petrol internal combustion engines. There has been talk a thousand times about the damage that a stringent time limit is causing to the sector and its related industries in terms of compression of volumes and jobs, but here we are beyond that. Especially for weeks The Truth he explained that an axis of 15 EU countries was formed, led by Italy, which asked to review the limits on emissions set by the CO2 regulation for new cars.
For 2025, the limits imposed by Europe provide for a 15% cut in emissions compared to 2021. An objective that is impossible to achieve because it would mean that a fifth of the cars sold will be electric. And given that the market for battery-powered vehicles is lacking and that we are below the 15% mark, it goes without saying that sanctions will be triggered shortly.
We are talking about a 95 euro fine for every gram of CO2 that exceeds the ceiling: according to Acea (the association of European car manufacturers) estimates, a drain that is just over 15 billion euros. There is still hope that the pressure of the coalition of the “willing” can achieve the objective of freezing the fines and postponing compliance with the limits set for 2025 until next year, but the latest statements by the European Commissioner for Climate, Wopke Hoekstrahave definitely dampened the enthusiasm. The new Green Deal teleban explained that «any change to the rules on environmental targets for 2025 would cause a distortion of the level playing field and would place producers who have said they are confident in the possibility of achieving their objectives at a disadvantage competitive”.
Of course, the path that is now taking shape risks distorting competition between automotive companies even more. In fact, consortia of producers are being formed with the aim of avoiding fines. The companies most in difficulty with the sale of electric cars, in fact, could purchase green certificates from the companies that instead manage to produce and place more battery-powered vehicles on the market. Thus falling within the limits of the EU Green Deal. A sort of shell game.
How are these consortia composed? On the one hand there is Tesla’s Elon Musk which will group with five other manufacturers, including Stellantis, Toyota, Ford, Mazda and Subaru. On the other Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Smart and Polestar which are forming a second “team”.
