Stellantis Proposes Alternatives to EU combustion Engine Ban, Citing Fleet Age Concerns
Munich, Germany – Stellantis is pushing back against the European Union’s planned ban on the registration of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2030, proposing two alternative strategies to reduce CO2 emissions without a full transition to electric vehicles, according to statements made at the Munich Motor show by Jean-Philip Imparato, president of the European branch of the concern. the move follows similar reconsiderations from BMW and a withdrawal of support for the 2030 deadline from other automakers.
Imparato revealed the proposals have been submitted to the European Car Producers (ACEA) and are intended to address CO2 reduction goals while acknowledging the economic realities of the automotive market. One suggestion centers on a CO2 “compensation” mechanism: scrapping older, higher-emission vehicles for newer or used cars less than three years old would qualify for a 70 g/km CO2 reduction credit, shielding manufacturers from emission standard penalties.
The second proposal calls for a new vehicle class - urban vehicles under 3.5 meters in length – that would be exempt from current driver assistance and safety system requirements. This would allow for the production of affordable ICE vehicles with smaller engines,priced under €15,000. Currently, electric vehicles are considered affordable starting at €25,000.
Imparato highlighted the aging European car fleet as a critical issue. Currently,there are 250 million vehicles on European roads with an average age of 12 years (over 18 years in Bulgaria),and 150 million cars are over a decade old. He warned that increasing vehicle prices driven by EU regulations are decreasing demand, possibly increasing the average car age by one year annually.In 2018, 49 models were available in Europe for under €15,000; that number has drastically diminished today.
