The European Commission (EC) is set to propose a revision to the penalties for car and van manufacturers who fail to meet the 2025 CO2 emission targets, allowing them to meet these targets based on fleet emissions over a three-year period.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the plan at a press conference on Monday. She emphasized that while the overall emission targets will remain unchanged, compliance will be assessed over three years rather than annually.
The EU executive intends to unveil its automotive action plan on Wednesday. The plan aims to support EU car producers in electrifying their fleets and competing with more advanced rivals in China and the United States.
“There’s a clear demand for more flexibility on CO2 targets,” von der Leyen told reporters after a meeting with representatives of the European car industry in Brussels. Under the proposed plan, companies will have three years to meet the targets, instead of annual compliance requirements, while the overall emission targets will remain unchanged, she said. Car makers will still “have to fulfil the targets but it means more breathing space for industry,” von der Leyen stated.
The Commission President is planning to present an amendment to current regulations to EU capitals and the European Parliament for approval this month. Manufacturers have been required to meet stricter limits for the average carbon dioxide emissions of their entire vehicle fleet since the start of the year.
Several car manufacturers risk exceeding the targets as sales of battery-powered vehicles in the EU have not increased as rapidly as projected.
