The German Federal Environment Minister, Carsten Schneider of the SPD party, has voiced support for accelerating the phase-out of internal combustion engines. Speaking to RTL and ntv television stations, Schneider emphasized the need for increased speed in the transition.
Schneider indicated he will carefully examine a proposal put forward by the automotive industry to the European Union, which suggests a ban on combustion engines in company and rental vehicle fleets. He described the concept as “interesting” and suggested that earlier adoption could stimulate market growth and facilitate the transition. Schneider believes that regulatory approaches could be an effective tool for achieving targets in automotive technology.
While the European Commission has only committed to reviewing such a regulation, the proposal originates from German automobile manufacturers. The initiative has already faced opposition, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the CDU party expressing reservations earlier this week. Schneider stated he will assess the proposal’s viability fully once formal suggestions are presented by the EU.
