Next year, the EU will introduce much stricter emission rules. It affects car factories that do not have enough time in the sale of electric cars, and now Renault's managing director is speechless.
Renault's managing director Luca de Meo is speechless that the EU stands firm on the far stricter emission requirements, so that they will be implemented from 1 January 2025.
In a new interview, the Renault boss expresses his dismay at the EU's emissions rules and the union's strict requirements for car manufacturers.
He questions decisions made six years ago and wonders how you can predict the future car market seven years in advance, especially when it comes to the share of electric cars.
Already in 2018, it was agreed that car manufacturers in the EU must reduce their average emissions to a maximum of 95 grams of CO2 per kilometres, based on data from 2016.
This corresponds to a decrease of 15 percent compared to the previous rules. If the car manufacturers do not meet the requirements, economic sanctions await them in the form of very heavy fines.
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Luca de Meo emphasizes that the EU should start evaluating the emission rules that will come into force in 2025, as the situation in the car industry has changed significantly since the decision was first adopted.
Among other things, he points out that car sales in Europe have fallen by 20 percent compared to the time of the covid-19 pandemic.
In addition, the costs of semiconductors, which are used in car production, have risen sharply, just as energy prices have skyrocketed, particularly as a result of the war in Ukraine.
He fears that if the demand for electric cars does not increase and the strict emission requirements continue to be enforced, Renault will have to buy emission quotas from other car manufacturers to avoid being hit by stalls.
This could mean that Renault must deal with manufacturers such as Tesla and BYD to meet the requirements.
– I am speechless when I see people who can predict the future seven years in advance, right down to the percentage of electric car sales, he says in an interview with Automotive News Europe.
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