The German Association of Industry (BDI) is urgently calling for clarity and definitive movement regarding the supposed ban on internal combustion engine vehicles. Tanja Gönner, the BDI’s Chief Executive Officer, told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” that there has long been an agreement to postpone the de facto sales ban on new diesel and gasoline cars in the EU until 2035, allowing more time for the transition to e-mobility.
Despite this understanding, the relevant legislative draft remains pending in Brussels. Gönner emphasized that the German government needs to push the EU Commission to expedite this process. “Companies require stability and dependability,” she stated.
The automotive industry is undergoing what Gönner described as the biggest transformation in its history. She argued that this massive shift requires strong state backing, such as significantly advancing the development of charging infrastructure and granting greater flexibility for the industrial transformation.
Furthermore, Gönner expressed deep concern over the increasing presence of Chinese manufacturers, noting that many car dealers are now selling BYD vehicles instead of Mercedes models. She labeled this situation “highly unsatisfactory” and demands corrective action from Brussels. She alleged that cars manufactured in China under unfair competitive conditions are now being flooded into the European market at dumping prices. The BDI insists that the EU must take a counter stance, though she stressed that the solution should not be total isolation, but rather “targeted responses.”
