The German parliamentary group of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) has voiced strong opposition to a proposed ban on gasoline-powered vehicles for rental car companies and corporate fleets starting in 2030. Concerns have been raised regarding the practicality and feasibility of such a widespread regulation.
Speaking to the Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers, Member of Parliament Tilman Kuban expressed skepticism, stating that proponents of the ban appear disconnected from reality. He suggested European Commission officials experience firsthand the infrastructure limitations in regions across Europe by taking vacations in countries like Croatia, Bulgaria, or Greece, where charging infrastructure lags significantly behind that of major German cities. Kuban, who chairs the CDU/CSU parliamentary group’s working group on European affairs, highlighted the disparity.
This sentiment is echoed within the German government itself. A spokesperson for Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) confirmed to the Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers that the government “strictly rejects” the proposed ban and has communicated this position to the car rental industry. The government is actively working to prevent the regulation from being implemented in its current form. The debate underscores ongoing challenges in balancing environmental policy goals with economic and infrastructural realities.