the French automobile industry asks Europe for “more flexibility and technological freedom”

The president of the Automotive Platform, and former Minister of Industry, Luc Chatel, believes on franceinfo that the EU’s decision to ban the sale of thermal vehicles from 2035 is “dogmatic” and “political”.

The French automotive industry is stepping up to the plate. Meeting on Tuesday, November 4 at the Cité des sciences et de l’industrie de la Villette in Paris, the Automobile Platform (PFA), which brings together manufacturers and equipment manufacturers, is contesting the European Union’s decision to ban the sale of thermal vehicles from 2035.

On Franceinfo, its president and former Minister of Industry, Luc Chatel, denounced a decision “dogmatic” And “policy”. “Europe invented the automobile industry at the end of the 19th century. It is the world leader in thermal engines. It chooses to go Hara-Kiri and choose a technology on which it is ten years behind. Spot the mistake!”he declared.

While reaffirming the sector’s commitment to decarbonization and carbon neutrality by 2050, Luc Chatel called for “more flexibility and technological freedom”. According to him, “the subject is less the totem of the date than the question of how we get there”he insisted, emphasizing that “several technologies must make it possible to reduce CO2 emissions”. “To sell cars, there have to be customers who buy them. Today, customers don’t buy” of electric cars, considered too expensive, he noted.

France recently aligned itself with Europe on the 2035 objective for the end of thermal cars, like Spain. The boss of the PFA regretted the position of the French government, judged “surprising”. According to him, “it is extremely rare for a government to take such a serious decision against its entire sector”he said.

The industry fears that the objective of banning thermal engines in 2035 in the EU will accelerate the decline of the French automobile industry. Luc Chatel also warned about the employment situation in the sector. According to a PFA study, 40,000 jobs have already disappeared since 2020, and an additional 75,000 could be lost by 2035. “There is fire at the lake”he concluded, calling on Brussels to reopen the ongoing debate on technological flexibility within the European Commission. “This discussion is ongoing”he clarified.