Luca de Meo has just raised the alarm over the ban on internal combustion cars in the EU by 2035. In a long interview with several European newspapers, including Les Échos, the Renault CEO speaks not only on behalf of his group but also on behalf of the association of European automobile manufacturers of which he is president.
His observation? Sales of 100% electric cars are not growing at a rate sufficient to meet the objectives set by the European Union in time. In particular because these sales remain very low in some countries “while we are asking manufacturers to achieve more than 20% next year,” he insists.
The market share of electric cars is stagnating
In fact, the goal seems out of reach. In the first six months of the year, electric car registrations in Europe have indeed increased by 54%, but they represent only one new car in eight. And even in a country like France, which had taken the lead thanks to the eco-bonus, we are witnessing a stagnation.
For the first six months of this year, the market share of electric cars in French dealerships remained at the level already reached in 2023: 17%. France can therefore no longer play the role of a locomotive within the EU.
More flexibility in the calendar
If sales are no longer growing at the desired rate, it is mainly due to the lack of affordable models. In order to sell more electric cars, motorists should be able to find models in dealerships that cost no more than 25,000 euros. A shortcoming that is attributable to the manufacturers themselves.
But without denying this part of responsibility, Luca de Meo, who is also president of the Association of European Car Manufacturers, calls on the EU to show “flexibility” in the transition timetable, in particular in the gradual reduction of average CO2 emissions of vehicles sold each year. Because, depending on the purchases of their customers, manufacturers must pay large fines if they do not respect the maximum limits provided for.
Do not penalize plug-in hybrid models
But they cannot force motorists to buy less polluting cars. One of their current concerns? The question of plug-in hybrids, which in France, for example, will be penalised financially, as they will suffer a significant penalty in 2025.
Manufacturers want public authorities to continue to give a commercial opportunity to these cars, which, although not 100% electric, emit less CO2 than 100% internal combustion cars. They also ask to speed up the creation of charging stations, especially in cities where personal parking spaces are scarce and where motorists rarely have the opportunity to install their own charging station. A major obstacle to purchase, which it turns out is not the responsibility of the manufacturers.
Source: BFM TV
