Volkswagen Group Chairman Urges EU to Revise Emissions Targets

Volkswagen Group Chairman Hans Dieter Pötsch urged the EU to revise its emissions targets and provide clearer guidance to the automotive industry, according to Bloomberg.
 

Pötsch stated that policymakers have set ambitious climate goals without fully considering the necessary measures to achieve them. He believes that the goals must be "grounded in reality" and allow the industry more time. "Electric vehicles are the future of personal transportation," he said, "but I must emphasize that politicians have set targets for the industry without the necessary infrastructure in place and without considering whether consumers are willing to adopt them."
 

On September 10, Volkswagen Group abolished its 30-year-old job guarantee measures in Germany. Additionally, the company warned last week that it may have to shut down its factories in Germany for the first time. Pötsch revealed that Volkswagen's negotiations with labor representatives and trade unions may continue until the end of the year. "It is crucial in this process to convince everyone that structural reforms are inevitable," he said. Pötsch stressed that the EU "must now create the conditions for the success of electric vehicles in terms of power grids, charging infrastructure, raw materials, vehicles, and investments." While he believes electric vehicles will become mainstream, he emphasized that this will take more time.
 

According to Pötsch, the automotive industry requires "innovative, competitive products and strong cooperation across political, business, and social levels." He added that "other regions are setting an example for us," and warned that "protectionism and isolation will not help." Renault CEO Luca de Meo echoed these sentiments, suggesting that European automakers should cooperate with Chinese companies and learn from their successes.