The Senate discussed the impact of European legislation on the automotive industry18/9/2025|Press releasesThe EVxROPA (The End of Motorism in the Czech Republic?) conference took place today in the Valdštejn Palace's Conference Hall. The event was organised by the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Jiří Oberfalzer with the professional cooperation of the Ministry of Transport. Speakers discussed topics relating to current European legislation and the impact on the automotive industry, and also focused on the end of the internal combustion engine era. The conference was attended, among others, by transport minister Martin Kupka and representatives of the automotive industry. "All the indications are that the European zero-emission and anti-emissions drive in its current legislative setting will do more harm than good, will make everything more expensive, impacting socially vulnerable families, and could have a fatal impact on the entire automotive industry. I have invited experts from the Ministry of Transport, including minister Martin Kupka, Ondřej Krutílek from the European Parliament, who has long been involved in transport, representatives of carmakers and other independent mobility experts to the Senate conference to ask how they see it, what to do about it and how to counter it," said Senate Vice-Chair Jiří Oberfalzer. "Compared to its main competitors, the European automotive industry is burdened by an unprecedentedly complex regulatory environment with a number of binding targets, norms, standards and obligations. If we want it to remain competitive, we must actively work to rationalise these requirements to match current geopolitical and market conditions," said transport minister Martin Kupka. He added that the Czech Republic must continue to play an active role in further negotiations with the European Commission. The main goal now is to maintain a competitive automotive industry not only in the Czech Republic but also in the European Union. At the conference, representatives of the Ministry of Transport presented some positive steps in the negotiations, such as the negotiation of the crucial EURO 7 standard, where the original European Commission proposal threatened to damage the Czech and European automotive industry and impact the domestic economy and employment. According to Martin Kupka, the ministry wants to continue its efforts to lift the ban on the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines after 2035, which it considers redundant. According to the ministry, the way to promote electromobility is through supporting innovation, charging infrastructure and research and development – not through additional obligations arising from new regulations. Zdeněk Petzl, Executive Director of the Association of the Automotive Industry, said: "The Czech automotive industry needs stable and predictable rules – not an endless stacking of new regulations. As the third largest vehicle manufacturer in Europe, we cannot wait for translations from Brussels, but must sit at the table there from the start. A return to the principles of good regulation is essential: technological neutrality, sufficient time for implementation and objectives aligned with market principles and real customer requirements. This is the only way to prove that the transformation will not be a political experiment, but a sustainable path that will strengthen the competitiveness of Czech and European industry.” “In the 130 years of its existence, Škoda Auto has become one of the pillars of the Czech economy. It has been significantly contributing to GDP growth and has long been one of the country's largest exporters and employers. The brand is a symbol of technological progress, industrial strength and export success of the Czech Republic. It has the broadest product portfolio in its history, from electric to traditional combustion engines, and thus meets the needs of its customers," said Martin Jahn, member of the Škoda Auto Board, emphasising: "The future of the automotive industry also needs to be discussed in the context of the ongoing transformation and the targets set for decarbonising passenger transport. It is essential to take into account the market situation, conditions and the current state of electromobility and charging infrastructure with a view to achieving the 2030 and 2035 targets. An early review of the CO2 regulation, the introduction of further flexibilities and a realistic view of the internal combustion engine ban will be key to ensuring legislative certainty and continued transformation of the industry." Earlier this year, the European Commission launched a strategic dialogue with key representatives of the automotive sector. Its outcome was the "Industrial Action Plan for the European Automotive Industry" presented in March.