Several EU member states are pushing to postpone penalties for European automakers who fail to meet 2025 emission reduction targets, according to Czech Transport Minister Martin Kupka speaking to CNN.
Euractiv reports that the Czech Republic and Italy will join forces at this week’s European Council summit to request a delay in implementing fines for automakers failing to achieve the required 15% reduction in fleet emissions by 2025.
Germany has also backed the postponement, with Economy Minister Robert Habeck, despite being a strong advocate for electric mobility, agreeing that a temporary suspension would benefit the industry.
The Czech Transport Minister argues that the recent and ongoing decline in electric vehicle sales across the EU will make it more difficult for automakers to meet the required 15% emissions reduction.
Major European car manufacturers are already facing serious financial challenges, with thousands of job cuts announced or planned.
“They cannot achieve the emissions target because interest in electric cars has decreased across the European Union,” Kupka explained, according to Euractiv.
The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) has warned that the current downward trend in the EU electric car market share poses significant challenges for the automotive industry.
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