If he continues to criticize European policies and administrative burden, Elon Musk does not forget to do business there. The billionaire even intends to sell his services to manufacturers based on the Old Continent. A paid act of charity, to help them meet their regulatory obligations on CO2 emissions.
According to specialist electrical analyst Matthias Schmidt, cited by Les Échos, Tesla filed a request with Brussels on Monday “statement of intent” to form a « pool » of builders.
Avoid fines
From 2025, the average authorized CO2 emission threshold decreases by 15%, reaching a maximum emissions of 81 g/km per new car put on the road. If exceeded, automobile groups will have to pay a fine of €95 per additional gram of CO2 emitted by each car passed. Luca de Meo, boss of Renault, then president of the association of European manufacturers, estimated the amount of fines incurred between 10 and 15 billion euros.
In order to reduce the average level of CO2 emissions, manufacturers then had to increase the share of full electric vehicles in their mix of registered cars. Or reduce sales of thermal engines. Or even do a little of both. Faced with the slowdown in the electricity market, meeting European commitments was becoming a challenge. And the builders found an escape route.
Pool emissions to better dilute them
The European Union authorizes another solution. That form a “pool” with a more virtuous manufacturer, namely a zero-emission car manufacturerin order to lower the general average of emissions from fleets registered on European soil. Pool to better dilute them.
This is what they just chose Stellantis, Toyota and Ford, negotiating a partnership with Tesla. The American manufacturer whose cars are experiencing less of a hit on the markets, of course, has the power to sell a kind of “permit to pollute” to its competitors. Mazda and Subaru would also be part of this « green deal » easy and very convenient.
A right to pollute
Stellantis confirms commitment to Caradisiac “to reduce its CO2 emissions and our participation in this pool will contribute to achieving our European emissions targets for 2025 while optimizing our resources. At the same time, we continue to focus on developing innovative, low-emission electric technologies that are at the heart of our strategy to build a business of the future.”
Other players could also partner with Tesla or Asian manufacturers. “The Volkswagen group will probably ally with Chinese brands as it has done in the past”predicts Matthias Schmidt in Les Échos. Renault could team up with the Chinese Geely brands, the two groups already being partners in the Horse entity. A moment of respite for manufacturers present on European soil, but at what cost?
