After BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis: the new chief of the fourth world car manufacturer, Antonio Filosa Italiano, also questioned the prohibition of sales of thermal vehicles in 2035 in the European Union, a “non-realistic” objective without the introduction of “flexibilities” for manufacturers affected by the crisis.
“55% of the emission objectives (greenhouse gas) for 2030 and the prohibition of thermal car sales in 2035 (in the European Union) are not realistic as defined,” said the new general director of Stellantis in an interview on Saturday, September 6.
“We must introduce flexibilities that contribute to both decarbonation and maintenance of industrial activity,” the successor added to Carlos Tavares at the head of the fourth world car manufacturer (Jeep, Peugeot and Fiat).
Industry pressure
The 2035 prohibition of the sale of new gas or diesel cars, including hybrids, in the EU, emblem of ambitious measures of the European Green Pact (Deal Verde), was acted by the European Commission in March 2023 despite the German reticence.
A “review” clause was established for 2026 to make a first inventory and possibly provide text settings. This objective has been challenged for several months by manufacturers, in the face of sales of electrical models that are skating, with the Chinese competition of climbing, US customs tasks and the fall in world gains.
“Deposits” can be studied, but with the condition that they do not call “in question” the release of fossil fuels, said the French industry ministry in June.
The German premium car manufacturer BMW proposed on Friday to postpone the ban in 2050. The previous week Ola Källenius, head of Mercedes-Benz and president of the Association of European Manufacturers (ACEA), had described the objective of “unattainable”.
Stellantis wants “flexibility levers”
Under industry pressure, the European Commission has already softened in March the objectives of reducing CO2 emissions in the medium term and its president Ursula von der Leyen must open a “strategic dialogue” next week with car manufacturers, shortly after the start of the Munich Munich Munich Automobile Fair (IAA), a need for the sector.
“Now we must go from the strategic dialogue to strategic action. And quickly. We must not underestimate the rapid decrease in the European automotive industry,” added Antonio Filosa.
When asked about the interrogation of the deadline of 2035, he reaffirmed the need for “flexibility levers” to “stop the vicious circle that leads to the fall in sales and delays the renewal of a parking that ages.”
It offers “Green of the Prime Park to scratch or re -train for more recent vehicles”, “CO2 supercredits” for sales of small electric cars or even a better assessment of hybrid vehicles. These measures aim to “revitalize the market” to “reduce production costs” and “make cars more affordable.”
The production of “in danger” electrical services?
As Jean-Philippe Imparato, who directed the European branch of Stellantis, did so in early July, Antonio Filosa reaffirmed that “the most urgent decision that will be taken in Brussels refers to the retirement of decarbonization of light service vehicles”, a “suffering” market because the demand for professionals is not in the conclusion of high costs.
This “endangers” tens of thousands of jobs and it is necessary to “extend the objectives of reduction of CO2 emissions” for this segment, believes.
If you remember that this axis is strategic in particular for France, “because one of our largest public service factories is in the north, in Hordain,” he says, questioned about possible factoring closures, which is “impossible to decide at this stage, we must first see how exchanges in European regulations will evolve.
In a global automotive market that “regionalizes” under the “double pressure of customs duties and regulations,” continues Mr. Philosa, “Europe has chosen the path of complete electrification, the orientation we support and in which we have invested strongly, but whose rhythm and rigidity of the market realities.”
Source: BFM TV
