Goodbye to the ban on combustion cars? Ursula von der Leyen is clear about it and brands won't like it

The last few days have been a hotbed of news with the latest automotive updates from brands for Europe. The IAA Mobility in Munich, however, has also served for the top executives of the brands to express their opinions on a meeting taking place this Friday, September 12.

In it, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, meets with manufacturers and other industry players in what is known as the “Strategic Dialogue”. Many brands, led by BMW and Mercedes, are attending this meeting to somehow overturn the ban of 2035.

From that year, as you should know, vehicles powered by combustion engines will no longer be sold in Europe. However, the entire sector is divided on what should be done and whether new exceptions should be implemented.

Europe will stand up to German brands

Not all German manufacturers are in favor of correcting Europe's course from 2035, but they are undoubtedly the main stronghold. And they will surely be the main resistance that Von der Leyen will face in this Friday's meeting.

However, everything points to the fact that the European Commission will remain firm in its initial positions. In Germany, the media Spiegel has accessed a strategy document that will guide its leader in the meeting with the brands.

Europe intends to maintain the 2035 ban, understanding that the conditions needed for the change are still feasible. However, “small exceptions” will be made, which will surely come to light in the coming days.

But don't expect an immediate decision, as the Commission will first have to present a thorough report that won't arrive until next spring. Moreover, manufacturers are far from reaching a consensus for the meeting, so debate is guaranteed.

Ursula von der Leyen should address some issues to ensure that the process reaches a successful conclusion. For example, flexibility to continue selling vehicles with plug-in hybrid technology, including range extenders, or the establishment of the “E-Cars” category so that brands have greater guarantees to develop and sell small (and affordable) electric cars.

The Commission will not yield further on the flexibility of CO2 emissions, as it recently did for 2025. But they should present firm proposals to establish a local battery supply chain, increase the number of electric cars in company fleets, ease the burden of CO2-neutral trucks on tolls, establish greater incentives for production, and strengthen Europe's position in automotive software development.

Europe wants brands to row in the same direction, to forget about fragmentation in their cooperation and duplication of efforts. Something that will benefit everyone and will allow achieving, as the document states, a competitive and prosperous European automotive industry.

Fuente: Spiegel