The European vehicle industry has reiterated its commitment to achieving the European Union’s 2050 climate neutrality goals and advancing the transition to zero-emission mobility. However, with the 2025 deadline fast approaching, manufacturers are grappling with growing challenges in meeting CO2 reduction targets, particularly due to sluggish demand for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and a deteriorating economic climate.
Ahead of the Competitiveness Council meeting on November 28, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) is calling on EU member states to set aside their differences and prioritize a key measure to ease the burden on manufacturers: reducing the compliance costs for meeting 2025 targets.
Sigrid de Vries, ACEA Director General, emphasized that manufacturers are currently shouldering the transformation burden, hindered by factors outside their control, including inadequate charging infrastructure and a lack of sufficient purchase incentives. “It is encouraging to see EU member states discussing viable options to relieve the immediate compliance pressure, such as introducing multi-year compliance periods or allowing the banking and borrowing of CO2 credits across years,” she said.
De Vries stressed the importance of reducing compliance costs for 2025 while ensuring the green mobility transition remains on track. The ACEA believes that such measures are vital to maintaining the resilience of the EU vehicle sector and its ability to navigate the ongoing green transition in the long term.
