The head of BMW said that reducing emissions was not just a question of selling more electric cars and that hybrids could also make a big contribution.
By AFP - Agence France Presse
BMW boss sees no need to delay EU emissions targets
The head of BMW said in an interview published on Monday that there was no need to delay the EU's stricter vehicle emissions targets that come into force next year, insisting that the German carmaker was prepared.
From 2025, the European Union is reducing the average emissions that new vehicles sold in the bloc can produce, with carmakers facing hefty fines if they fail to meet the requirements.
Some countries and the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) have called for the targets to be postponed or eased, saying automakers will struggle to meet them amid slowing demand for electric cars.
But BMW chief executive Oliver Zipse said he saw no reason for a postponement.
“We've known about the 2025 targets since 2019,” he said in an interview with Automobilwoche magazine, adding that the carmaker had adapted its projects in preparation.
“We see no reason to postpone the CO2 targets to 2025.”
He said that reducing emissions was not just a question of selling more electric cars and that hybrids could also make a big contribution.
Under the new rules, average emissions from new passenger cars sold in the bloc will have to fall by 19%, from 116 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer to less than 93.6 grams.
However, Zipse criticized the 2035 deadline for phasing out new sales of fossil fuel cars in the EU.
This policy “restricts successful technologies but does not create sufficient investment in new paths and technologies to achieve Europe's climate goals,” he said.
Car giant Stellantis, whose brands range from Jeep to Fiat and Peugeot, has also spoken out against the postponement of the new targets, pointing to the efforts it has made to prepare for them.
Like other German manufacturers, luxury carmaker BMW has faced falling profits as it struggles with high manufacturing costs and weak demand, especially in the crucial Chinese market.
However, Zipse was optimistic about the future, particularly sales of electric vehicles, despite the recent slowdown in demand in some markets.
Electric mobility “will continue to be our strongest growth driver in the coming years,” he said.
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