The head of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), Hildegard Müller, is calling for significant easing of regulations for the auto industry ahead of the Munich IAA auto show.
Speaking on the Berlin Playbook podcast from POLITICO, Müller emphasized the industry’s inability to shoulder responsibility if electricity grids are inadequate, consumers are unable to charge electric vehicles and consequently, electric mobility adoption is hindered.
While not directly challenging the planned 2035 ban on the registration of new gasoline and diesel vehicles, Müller highlighted the need for adjustments to fleet emission targets set by the European Union. She explained that the initial assumption in 2019, during the targets’ establishment, was that producing efficient vehicles would be sufficient to drive consumer uptake. However, she argued that this approach alone fails to persuade buyers when faced with high energy prices or a lack of charging infrastructure.
Müller urged CDU leader Friedrich Merz to continue advocating for Germany’s position as a leading automotive nation, suggesting ongoing regulatory adjustments are crucial for sustaining that standing.
