The European Commission appears ready to heed warnings from the European automotive industry about the challenges posed by rapid electrification by 2035, Les Echos reports.
Speaking to industry representatives gathered by the French Automobile Platform (PFA) in Paris, Commission Vice President Stephane Sejournet announced that new, more pragmatic measures would be unveiled on December 10. These will include the recognition of technological neutrality, which will allow the use of plug-in hybrid vehicles, extended-range vehicles and synthetic fuels after 2035, as well as the possible separation of commercial vehicles from the trajectory of decarbonization of passenger cars. Sejournay also confirmed plans for a new regulatory framework for subcompact cars, freezing further regulatory tightening to help reduce costs and make compact electric vehicles affordable at around 15,000 euros.
Other initiatives under discussion include temporary subsidies for battery manufacturers facing the "valley of death" and a local content threshold defining what counts as a "European car" for benefits. The PFA welcomed the pragmatic tone of the commission, which has long advocated a flexible approach to maintaining industrial competitiveness while meeting climate targets. Sejourné warned that without these adjustments, European production could drop from 12 million to 9 million vehicles within a decade, and the market share could drop from 70% to 50%. "The goal," he said, "is to preserve European automotive expertise and jobs in a realistic regulatory framework."
