The European Union’s 2035 ban on petrol and diesel cars will cause social disadvantage due to the high cost of electric vehicles, says a leading global automotive expert.
The CEO of automotive conglomerate Stellantis – the parent company of Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Peugeot, Opel and Vauxhall – has slammed the European Union’s proposed ban on petrol and diesel cars by 2035, claiming the radical plan will lead to “serious social problems” due to the lack of affordability of electric vehicles.
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares in particular criticised the European Union’s 2035 ban on fossil fuel-powered vehicles for not including hybrid cars.
While hybrids and plug-in hybrids are more expensive than petrol or diesel cars, they are significantly cheaper than electric vehicles.
Mr Tavares told media at this week's Paris Motor Show he believes hybrids allow more new-car buyers to access lower-emissions vehicles, and warned an outright ban on petrol and diesel vehicles could lead to social issues.
“It's essential,” Mr Tavares said regarding the need for adjustments to the European Union’s proposed ban, according to news agency Reuters.
“The dogmatic decision that was taken to ban the sale of thermal vehicles (petrol and diesel cars) in 2035 has social consequences that are not manageable.
“If you deny the middle classes access to freedom of movement, you are going to have serious social problems.
"What we have to offer our European leaders is a transitional solution.”
Mr Tavares said mild-hybrid engines – petrol or diesel engines assisted by small electric motors – can keep cars affordable while reducing CO2 emissions by 50 percent.
In a separate report by UK publication Autocar, Mr Tavares claimed the European Union’s delayed ‘Euro 7’ emissions regulations will force car-makers to spend money on cleaner fossil fuel engines, instead of developing cheaper electric cars.
“From an industry perspective, we don’t need EU7, as it will be drawing resources we should be spending on electrification,” Mr Tavares told Autocar.
“Spending money developing one more step for internal combustion for a 2028 enforcement ... it doesn’t make sense.
“Why use scarce resources for something for a short period of time? The industry doesn’t need it, and it's counterproductive.”
Mr Tavares believes stricter Euro 7 regulations will lead to car-makers pushing their engines beyond what is possible, leading to an increased risk of failure.
“It (Euro 7) has been postponed many times already, as we’re reaching the limits. You reach physical limits. You shouldn’t try to go beyond them", Mr Tavares told Autocar.
“You wouldn't dare do it in this world, as you would risk compliance. You have to be compliant everywhere, and that pushes you beyond physics.
“When you move beyond physics, scrap it. It's counterproductive. It doesn’t make sense, that’s why it’s being postponed. We’re ready for electric.”
Stellantis has previously announced it is aiming electric cars to account for 100 per cent of its European sales by 2030.
In the US, Stellantis expects electric cars to account for 50 per cent of its sales by the end of the decade.
By 2030, Stellantis claims it will launch 75 electric cars across its 15 brands worldwide.
The multinational automotive conglomerate does not yet sell any electric cars in Australia.
Stellantis was formed in 2021 as a merger between the Italian-American Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (owners of Dodge, RAM, Jeep, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Maserati) and France’s PSA Group (parent company to Citroen, Peugeot, Opel and Vauxhall).
Jordan Mulach is Canberra/Ngunnawal born, currently residing in Brisbane/Turrbal. Joining the Drive team in 2022, Jordan has previously worked for Auto Action, MotorsportM8, The Supercars Collective and TouringCarTimes, WhichCar, Wheels, Motor and Street Machine. Jordan is a self-described iRacing addict and can be found on weekends either behind the wheel of his Octavia RS or swearing at his ZH Fairlane.
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