Group says more than just EVs are needed to meet goals
Wants 2026 review brought forward
A German trade group is pushing back at the European Union’s plan to ban internal combustion engines from 2035. The group says that the move could threaten jobs inside and outside of the auto industry, and have other significant consequences for countries in the EU.
Primarily German, the VDMA is a trade association representing around 3,500 European companies involved in the mechanical engineering industry. The group wants to lend its support to the concerns raised by EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton regarding the 2035 ban on internal combustion models.
Breton’s concerns include that a commitment to only EVs would “jeopardize the complex, well-established value chains.” Meaning that it would disrupt current automotive suppliers, a move that could reduce jobs in the industry and those affected. Breton also pointed out that Europe would need to generate 20 to 25 percent more electricity, and that currently many EU countries are using gas or coal to raise their generating capacity.
“The de facto ban on the internal combustion engine is the wrong way to go. To achieve effective climate protection quickly, all climate-friendly drive options must be used,” said VDMA Deputy Executive Director Hartmut Rauen.
Rauen and the VDMA believe that “all climate-friendly drive options must be used.” For the group, that means internal combustion vehicles powered by green eFuels. Automakers including Porsche have worked on developing carbon-neutral synthetic fuels that could power conventional engines without adding to carbon emissions.
While the EU is promising to review the measures for 2026, the VDMA would like it done sooner. “The automotive industry in Europe and its suppliers need clarity as soon as possible, not just in a few years. The necessary investment decisions must be made now,” said Peter Müller-Baum, Managing Director of VDMA Engines and Systems.
