Since the European Union announced it would ban the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines from 2035, BMW has spoken out strongly against the drastic decision. In almost every interview, outgoing CEO Oliver Zipse has expressed concern that a shift to electric vehicles would disrupt the European automotive industry.
In addition to warning that there will inevitably be massive job cuts, the Munich boss argues that there is another reason why it is premature to stop selling new vehicles with combustion engines. BMW firmly believes that Europeans will not be ready to uniformly adopt electric vehicles until the middle of the next decade. Electric cars are still more expensive than comparable gasoline models and the charging infrastructure still leaves something to be desired in parts of the continent.
In the face of increasing criticism, the EU appears to be listening. The times reports that the highly controversial deadline will be pushed back by five years, meaning automakers will be allowed to sell internal combustion engine vehicles until December 31, 2039. The British newspaper cites several sources saying the deadline will be delayed from the original 2035 target.
Further clarity on the ban is expected next week. Although the European Commission declined to comment, it confirmed that details of the updated rules will be announced on December 16. It is assumed that plug-in hybrids will continue to exist alongside vehicles that run on CO2-neutral fuels after 2035.
While the current proposal does not explicitly ban the sale of new internal combustion engine cars, its call for zero-emission vehicles essentially amounts to the same thing. According to the current status, car manufacturers will only be able to sell electric vehicles in Europe from January 1, 2035. It is increasingly likely that the ban will either be delayed or relaxed.
With a few exceptions such as Volvo and Geely’s Polestar, most car manufacturers are against the idea that the limit will not be reached for nine years. BMW’s competitor Mercedes also came out strongly, arguing that sticking with the original proposal would do more harm than good. Instead, it calls for more flexibility by giving buyers more options.
Regardless of whether the date is 2035 or 2040, the ban does not apply to cars already on the road. Europeans can continue to drive their gasoline and diesel vehicles and buy used models with combustion engines. In other words: the ban proposed by the EU is limited to new cars.
Source: The Times (subscription required)
