European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and representatives from the automotive industry are expected to address the findings of a review of fleet emission targets in mid-December. According to a report in “Bild” a preliminary decision could be reached before the end of the year.
Sources within the Commission indicate that von der Leyen informed the CEOs of major European automotive companies on Friday that she would provide initial insights into the Commission’s likely conclusions in December. An internal strategy paper reportedly suggests that limited exceptions could be considered for plug-in hybrids and engines utilizing climate-neutral fuels.
The automotive industry had previously advocated for more flexible regulations. Tilman Kuban, spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, stated that preserving industrial jobs necessitates reconsidering the planned phase-out of combustion engines. “This is the clear expectation of the CDU/CSU group from the EU Commission” he said, adding that factories are currently facing closures and industrial decline is accelerating.
Current fleet emission targets, known as “fleet emission targets” allow manufacturers of new cars registered in the EU to emit an average of 93.6 grams of CO2 per kilometer. This limit is being progressively lowered, with the objective of reaching zero emissions per kilometer and effectively preventing the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles from 2035 onward.
These fleet emission targets are part of the “Fit-for-55” package, which represents the EU’s commitment to limiting climate change to slightly above two degrees Celsius. The International Court of Justice recently clarified that states exceeding the 1.5-degree threshold could face liability claims.