Strict CO2 limits are already having an impact, we need a review as soon as possible

28/11/2024Press releases

The impact of the ban on the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines must be revisited as soon as possible, so that the European car industry can stay competitive, safeguard jobs and ensure the availability of transport. Transport minister Martin Kupka is convinced of this.

Strict CO2 limits are already having an impact, we need a review as soon as possible

"We are calling for a review of the ban to take place as early as 2025 and not in 2026, as originally planned. We want to discuss this with the new European Commission and are also preparing a position paper for which we would like to win a coalition of like-minded countries, as was the case with the revision of the Euro 7 standard," said minister Kupka.

This builds on our previous activities in the field of realistic and feasible greening of transport and the current initiative of Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni: "Our aim must be to maintain the competitiveness of the European car industry while preventing the creation of barriers that would prevent the purchase of new affordable cars. We have the ambition to be leaders in the efforts to change the setting of European plans for internal combustion engines," emphasises the transport minister.

We have already taken the first steps towards a real green policy: In Berlin this week, minister Kupka held talks with German transport minister Volker Wissing on steps to reassess CO₂ limits for passenger vehicles, also following last week's letter from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), which mentioned the impossibility of meeting the CO₂limits in 2025. We are also in contact with the Association of the Czech Car Industry regarding further joint steps.

"The way forward is through further intensive negotiations and gaining sufficiently broad support from like-minded states," the minister reminds.

In 2023 a revision of the Regulation setting CO₂ performance limits for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles (vans) was adopted in line with the Union's more ambitious climate targets.