The EU must reset the narrative on vehicle electrification, says broad coalition of industry groups and civil society

To: Heads of State or Government of the European Union,

Dear Heads of State or Government of the European Union,

We, a broad coalition representing non-governmental organizations, think tanks, energy providers, renewable and cleantech industries, and the e-mobility sector, are writing to express our concern over the current direction of EU discussions on vehicle electrification in the context of the ongoing oil crisis.

Road transport remains the primary driver of Europe’s oil dependency. Passenger cars alone consume approximately 1 billion barrels of imported oil annually. This structural dependency costs the EU hundreds of billions of euros annually, weakens our economy and leaves European citizens exposed to geopolitical shocks and volatile fuel prices.

The latest surge in oil prices following the escalating conflict in the Middle East is yet another reminder of this vulnerability. But unlike in previous crises, Europe now has a readily available structural solution.

Electric vehicles are a mature and increasingly affordable technology. Carmakers have launched numerous new models, driving rapid growth in EV sales. Every electric vehicle on the road reduces oil demand, shields households from price volatility, and strengthens Europe’s energy and economic security.

In this context, the review of the car CO₂ standards and the ongoing discussions on the automotive package sends the wrong signal at the wrong time.

Proposals to weaken the agreed targets are out of touch with the urgent need to protect Europeans, strengthen our resilience, and reinforce our strategic sovereignty.

Rather than lowering the ambition of recently agreed legislation, political leaders must focus on accelerating electrification. Policy reversals at this stage would undermine investor confidence, delay industrial transformation, threaten EU air quality objectives and its zero-pollution vision for 2050, and prolong Europe’s dependence on imported oil.

The EU must therefore reset the narrative on electrification. The debate should no longer focus on slowing the transition, but on how to accelerate it in the interest of Europe’s energy security, economic resilience, and industrial leadership.

We therefore call on EU leaders to adopt a strong vision and concrete action to accelerate vehicle electrification. In particular, this means safeguarding the car CO₂ targets adopted just three years ago, rapidly implementing national electrification action plans, and supporting measures such as social leasing schemes, charging infrastructure deployment, and the removal of grid bottlenecks.

Now is the time for political leadership. Europe must choose: continue to bear the price of oil dependency, or decisively build a clean, sovereign, and affordable mobility system supported by a strong EU clean industry.

Sincerely,

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To see the full list of signatories, download the letter.