Drive forward or turn back? Four reasons to vote for a strong automotive package
The coming weeks will be crucial for the future of the EU's car and van CO₂ standards and Clean Corporate Vehicles Regulation — a choice that will shape Europe's car market for the next decade.
Strong CO₂ standards and clean corporate fleets mean affordable EVs, EU jobs and less oil dependence and less CO2 emissions. Europe can’t afford to turn back.
T&E voting recommendations
European car industry at a crossroads
Driving forward means a competitive, EU-made EV industry and clean and affordable mobility; turning back means locking in energy dependence, industrial decline, and polluting, expensive mobility paid for by citizens and companies.
Affordability
Households could save €70 a month by switching from petrol to electric. Large companies will save even more. Strong CO₂ standards mean affordable electric cars. Electrifying corporate fleets will speed up supply.
Weak CO₂ standards will delay the moment electric cars cost the same as petrol cars. Citizens are stuck in a fossil fuel trap: diesel already costs €30 extra every time they fill their tank.
Competitiveness
Europe is going electric: 38% of new cars sold in August were fully electric. Strong CO₂ standards keep European carmakers in the race. Made-in-EU requirements mean more jobs and investment.
Weak car CO₂ standards and corporate fleet targets means 22 million electric vehicles won’t be built in EU factories (T&E based on ACEA). Clinging to the combustion engine won't protect jobs or investments from our competitors.
Climate-proofing
Cars and vans produce 16% of the EU’s CO₂ emissions. A strong automotive package puts them on track, keeping 720 million tonnes of CO₂ out of Europe’s air by 2050.
Weaker rules on cars CO2 standards would add 1.4 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2050. After Europe’s summer of climate disasters, this rollback would threaten our climate objectives and future generations.
Energy security
Electric cars saved €2.9 billion in oil imports last year alone. The EU is more independent by going electric with locally sourced renewables that strengthen our energy security. Weakening CO2 standards could mean 900 million more barrels of imported oil by 2035.
Giving combustion engines on the road longer will cost Europe €74 billion. Paid by households, straight to oil-rich countries.
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