Minister Kupka and AutoSAP seek to change emission limits for cars and vans28/11/2024|Press releasesEurope needs a systematic change towards decarbonisation and needs to respond more flexibly to the current state of industry and market developments. This is key to strengthening the competitiveness of Europe and Czech businesses, reducing strategic dependence on China and maintaining jobs in the industry. The main requirement of the Czech Republic is an emphasis on technological neutrality, i.e. openness to all available options how to decarbonise transport. Changes to the regulation are also needed to avoid counterproductive penalties already in 2025. These sanctions were approved in 2019, but would be completely ineffective now. Mechanisms need to be put in place that take into account the current market trends, production conditions and infrastructure. The Czech Republic will seek an early review of the regulation and rationalisation of the targets set, including an assessment of the feasibility of banning internal combustion engines in 2035. The same approach will be pursued in the revision of the emission targets for heavy goods vehicles. The Czech Republic wants to gain support across European countries and to address partners with a draft joint declaration that will be sent to the European Commission. Transport minister Martin Kupka says: "We are building on our previous activities in the area of realistic and feasible greening of transport and preserving its accessibility. I decided to approach the ministers of the member states in cooperation with the Association of the Car Industry to support the need to accelerate the revision of the limits. Together we will do everything we can to avoid even the thought of closing factories and losing jobs and individual mobility." minister Kupka stresses that the automotive industry is a key sector of the domestic and European economy. It is essential that the approach to meeting the targets is not only environmentally but also economically sustainable and allows for investment in innovation and fleet renewal. Martin Jahn, President of AutoSAP and member of the Board of Directors of Škoda Auto, adds: "The first step to maintaining a strong automotive industry in the Czech Republic is to quickly address the spike in emissions targets from 2025. Under current market conditions, it is simply impossible to meet these targets, which would lead to massive penalties for car manufacturers. This would weaken their position in the face of global competition and drain resources for further necessary investments in transformation. An early revision of the CO2 targets is therefore necessary." AutoSAP Executive Director Zdeněk Petzl also points to the need for a system-based approach to industry transformation. In pursuing green transformation goals, it is important to take into account the real opportunities and challenges that automakers currently face and to set regulations in a way that supports not only decarbonisation but also stability and growth in the sector. Zdeněk Petzl points out: "We very much appreciate the support of minister Kupka. We are finding ourselves at a critical crossroads where much more is at stake than just the percentage points of emission targets – jobs, the preservation of a strong automotive industry in the Czech Republic and Europe's strategic independence. If we are serious about reducing emissions, we need to create competitive soil for industry and address key challenges such as high energy prices, excessive regulatory burdens and the almost non-existent European supply chain for electric mobility." The Ministry of Transport and the Czech automotive industry stress that they are ready to actively contribute to climate protection together. However, this requires a stable and competitive environment and conditions that will allow realistic objectives to be met in practice in the long term. Context In 2019, the Council and European Parliament approved a regulation setting CO2 performance limits for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles (vans) for 2025 and 2030. Following the more ambitious Union climate targets agreed by the European Council in 2020, a revision of this regulation was adopted in 2023, revising the 2030 target and adding a 2035 target. The European Commission should submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council by 31 December 2025. This should most likely be followed by a legislative review in 2026 through an ordinary legislative procedure (usually taking 12-18 months). Given the critical state of the automotive industry, the launch of the review cannot wait until 2026.