European carmakers have said they face the prospect of “multibillion-euro” fines or significant production cuts when new EU carbon emissions standards come into force next year, adding to pressure on Brussels to water down the rules.
Acea, the European car industry body, on Thursday called for an “urgent review” of emissions rules to be applied in 2025 and of a ban on new internal combustion engine cars in 2035. Both are core elements of the EU’s Green Deal climate law that aims to push the bloc to net zero emissions by 2050.
The Acea board, which includes the chief executives of Renault, Nissan and Toyota, said carmakers faced the “daunting prospect of either multibillion-euro fines . . . or unnecessary production cuts, job losses, and a weakened European supply and value chain”.