European policymakers and industry leaders are advocating for a shift away from the EU’s current trajectory towards exclusive electric vehicle adoption. Manfred Weber, President of the European People’s Party (EVP), stated in an interview with “Welt am Sonntag” that he promises Europeans an end to the combustion engine ban. He affirmed that the EVP has been campaigning for this change in Brussels and anticipates delivering results this autumn. While remaining committed to the goal of climate neutrality, Weber argues that the path to achieving it should remain flexible.
Weber proposed a “Four-Point Automotive Promise for Europe” which, alongside overturning the combustion engine ban, includes the establishment of a virtual automotive university leveraging the expertise of European technical institutions. He also envisions utilizing AI gigafactories to accelerate vehicle development and mobility research, designating entire regions as innovation testbeds for technologies like autonomous driving and fostering an “intensive dialogue with employees within the automotive industry.
Weber emphasized the need to correct “ideological errors of the past legislative period” and appealed to the Social Democrats to support these changes. He believes this approach could potentially slow the rise of right-wing populists, citing upcoming elections in France and Poland in 2027 as critical considerations. Securing jobs within the automotive sector and gaining support from workers is deemed a key priority.
The current EU regulation from 2023 mandates a 100% reduction in car emissions, effectively phasing out combustion engines. Christophe Périllat, CEO of prominent French supplier Valeo, suggests an alternative: lowering the target to 90%. This adjustment would allow for the use of range extenders and plug-in hybrids, while also preventing the EU Commission from appearing inflexible. Périllat explained that this approach could permit battery-powered vehicles to utilize a combustion engine for portions of longer journeys, such as vacations or business travel.