“It would be surreal” to change European rules, argues Stellantis
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“It would be surreal” to change European rules, argues Stellantis

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares attends the inauguration of a factory in Turin, April 10, 2024. (MARCO BERTORELLO)

“It would be surreal to change the European rules on CO2 emissions now, as some car manufacturers are demanding, said Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares on Sunday.

According to an informal document published in the press, the automotive lobby ACEA (which includes Volkswagen and Renault, but not Stellantis) is asking the European Union to activate a rare emergency procedure to postpone by two years the application, planned for 2025, of its strengthened rules on CO2 emissions.

These rules force them to sell more electric models, or face heavy fines.

But the electricity market has not grown as expected in Europe in recent months, particularly due to the withdrawal of purchasing aid in Germany.

For Stellantis, the second largest European group, this changes nothing: “from the point of view of competition, which is so dear to the European Union, it would be surreal to change the rules now,” Mr Tavares said in an interview with AFP on Sunday.

“Everyone has known the rules for a long time, everyone has had time to prepare, and so now we are racing,” declared the CEO of Stellantis from the Chantilly (Oise) Concours d’Elegance.

This enthusiast of vintage cars and motor racing was part of the jury, and presented DS, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Lancia models.

Carlos Tavares has long opposed the introduction of overly restrictive rules for the automobile industry regarding its CO2 emissions. He has been repeating for years that electric cars will not sell if they remain too expensive.

“The dogmatism (of European decision-makers) has broken against the wall of reality,” he explained. “We are in a system where the regulator wants consumers to buy these cars, and the consumer says no thanks, not at this price (…)”.

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“But now we have the cars, we have organized ourselves to make the necessary sales, we are breathing down Tesla’s neck. And we are told that there will be disasters. But we should have thought of that before, right?”, said Mr. Tavares.

Stellantis, which posted a decline in first-half results, says it is ready for any eventuality, with an ongoing strengthening of its electric range, but also a range of 30 hybrid models under its 15 brands by the end of 2024.

Furthermore, the group “has made an ethical decision not to buy credits” (which allow the most polluting manufacturers to join forces with the least polluting, such as Tesla), “because we believe that we must truly make a contribution to reducing emissions,” he said.

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