Anna Hartz
VW Boss Says Europe May Need More Time
Electric vehicles are supposed to be the future. Governments across Europe are pushing hard for a shift away from gas and diesel cars.
But many in the auto industry are starting to question if the timeline is realistic.
One of them is Oliver Blume, the head of Volkswagen and Porsche. He believes the EU may be moving too fast, reports Boosted.
Blume recently spoke out about the EU’s plan to ban new gas and diesel cars by 2035. He said the plan needs more flexibility.
He wants to see regular checks to compare goals with what’s actually happening. In other words, how fast are electric vehicles really catching on?
He told the German paper Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung that transition plans should be adjusted if the shift to electric cars is slower than expected.
He also said governments may need to extend the timeline or create special exceptions.
The EU has already left the door open a bit. After 2035, cars with combustion engines might still be sold if they run on carbon-neutral fuels like e-fuels or hydrogen.
Blume supports the EU’s idea to delay stricter CO₂ rules for carmakers. Those rules were supposed to kick in by 2025, but the new proposal moves that deadline to 2028.
That gives companies like Volkswagen more time to adjust. Without that delay, German automakers could have faced huge fines.
French carmaker Renault might also struggle with the original targets.
At the same time, European carmakers are dealing with falling sales in China. That adds pressure.
Trade disputes and hesitant customers are also slowing down electric car sales.
In many countries, buyers still prefer traditional cars. Some are worried about price. Others worry about range and charging.
Blume isn’t alone. Other top auto executives have raised concerns too.
Mercedes-Benz boss Ola Källenius has also pushed for more realistic climate targets.
For now, the debate continues. EU lawmakers and member states are still discussing the 2028 CO₂ plan.
Nothing is final. Some officials may even try to rethink the 2035 ban completely. What’s clear is that the road to electric cars won’t be simple.