Nicolas Peter, Chairman of the BMW Supervisory Board, stated that he views the European Union as having a share of responsibility in the ongoing trade dispute with the United States. Speaking to “Die Zeit”, Peter urged both sides to quickly ratify the trade agreement, suggesting that the shared interests between the US and the EU are much greater than current public statements convey. This comes in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s declaration that his administration would impose steep tariffs of 25% on imported cars from Europe, up from 15%, citing that the EU failed to fulfill its obligations under a trade pact negotiated last August.
Regarding the transition to electric mobility, Peter expressed skepticism that the currently inflated fuel prices will act as a catalyst for change. He noted that while current demand forecasts suggest that by 2035, approximately half of customers will desire battery electric vehicles (BEVs), the goal of achieving 90% or even 100% penetration by then remains unrealistic.
Although BMW itself remains committed to the goal of decarbonization, Peter argues that the current planned path is “detrimental to Europe”. To address specific transitional issues, he suggested a stricter control over the use of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs). Peter criticized the common failure of drivers to utilize the electric drive system, characterizing it as a “behavior problem” that undermines a promising climate-friendly technology. As a potential solution, he proposed that manufacturers should document usage patterns and even implement sanctions; for example, if a driver consistently fails to charge the battery, the engine power could be reduced, a technical measure he deems feasible.