German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that his government will ask the European Commission to review regulations that plan to ban the sale of combustion vehicles from 2035.
Berlin wants the EU to allow the continued marketing of plug-in hybrid electric cars … Extended autonomy and “high efficiency” thermal engines after that date.
Merz explained in an appearance in Berlin that he would send a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to defend the German position. According to him, the coalition between the conservatives and the Social Democrats is aware of the “precarious situation” that the country’s automobile industry is experiencing, affected by falling demand in Europe, Chinese competition and trade tensions with the United States. Problems that have already led to the loss of tens of thousands of jobs.
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The advisor stressed that relaxing the rules would allow manufacturers to maintain competitiveness without abandoning climate goals. “Our common goal must be to achieve innovation-friendly and technology-neutral regulations that reconcile climate protection and industrial competition,” he said.
The delicate situation in this sector coincides with the efforts of the executive branch to revitalize the German economy in a context characterized by aging infrastructure, a shrinking workforce and the impact of the war in Ukraine.
The discussion also has a strong political element: the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has used the shift to electric cars to fuel social unrest, as it competes with conservatives for leadership at the ballot box.
Merz stressed that reviewing EU emissions regulations is a “key step” to ensure Europe’s future as a car manufacturing hub. According to the Chancellor, the government’s proposal seeks to avoid penalties for non-compliance with emissions limits and to protect the sector that is an essential part of Germany’s industrial identity.