The EC warns the automotive industry that it will need more CO ₂ adjustments by 2030

The European Commission’s Vice-President for the Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, warned the automotive industry on Thursday that “additional measures will be needed” before 2030 to reduce _CO2 emissions from vehicles and meet the EU’s environmental goals.

“We can’t sit on our hands until 2030 (…). Something has to be done,” Timmermans told a news conference.

The senior European official had been asked by press reports about ec plans to require cars to be _co2-zero emissions from January 2026 to be labeled “sustainable” under future green investment rules known as “taxonomy”.

Without commenting on details, Timmermans said he was aware that “there are many nerves” in the automotive sector and said he wants to “do this with dialogue with the automotive industry, but without avoiding difficult obstacles.”

“The car industry is of critical importance in the EU, but it has to move towards the electric vehicle,” added the EU vice president, who stressed that it is not possible to “wait until 2029 to make a new review of emissions.”

For its part, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) says the sector is committed to the descabonization of the economy, but does not expect electric vehicles to dominate the EU market at least until 2030 and fears that too strict rules will curb investments and slow down technological change.

Timmermans explained that the EC will carry out four impact analyses before presenting legislative proposals in June next year, adding that the Commission will accompany manufacturers in the transition to the electric vehicle, as it already does, for example, by structuring a European battery alliance.

“The real bottleneck of the electric car is the shortage of batteries, not the shortage of demand,” said the Dutch politician.

According to the EU’s EU statistics office, Eurostat, general transport accounts for almost 30% of EU _CO2 emissions and cars 12% of the total.

According to the latest legislative revision, in 2019, car manufacturers are required to achieve by 2030 a reduction in _CO2 emissions of 37.5% in new cars compared to 2021 values.

Source: El Diario