Over 20 organisations have called on the European Commission to conduct an early, technology-neutral revision of the CO₂ standard regulations, and provide the enabling conditions and incentives needed for a further uptake of clean vehicles.
Amid the ongoing Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Automotive Industry, 21 organisations – representing a broad value chain in the road transport sector – have issued a joint statement.
They call on the European Commission to anticipate the revision of the CO₂ standard regulations by one year – and ensure that they are technology-neutral. They also urge the Commission to put in place the enabling conditions and incentives needed to encourage further uptake of clean vehicles, rather than imposing anti-free market purchasing mandates on the private sector.
IRU EU Director Raluca Marian said, “The EU is doing itself a disservice with its current decarbonisation strategy. The lack of technological neutrality is constraining the choice of viable technologies to meet CO₂ reduction targets.”
“To advance the bloc’s chances to meet its decarbonisation goals, the Commission should bring forward the revision of CO₂ standards by a year. It also needs to establish the enabling conditions and incentives needed to accelerate a wider uptake of clean vehicles,” she added.
Several complementary pathways for transport decarbonisation, including sustainable, low-carbon and renewable fuels, are needed to achieve EU objectives while minimising costs.
Purchasing mandates imposed on fleet owners by legislation contradict the EU’s market-based principles. The focus should instead be on developing the necessary enabling conditions and providing operational and financial incentives to enable operators to purchase and use these technologies.
“Thanks to the European Commission’s initiative to launch the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Automotive Industry, we have a unique opportunity to accelerate the decarbonisation of road transport. We cannot let this moment slip away or be derailed by tunnel vision,” said Raluca Marian.
Following the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Automotive Industry launched in late January, the Industrial Action Plan for the Automotive Sector is set to be presented on 5 March.