Tongues are loosened, and speech is loosened. We knew that, behind the facade of unanimity in favor of the transition to the electric car, entire sections of the automobile industry, among German manufacturers but not only, have never stopped contesting this process engaged with sword in kidneys at the initiative of the European Union. Until then, they had been fighting with speckled foils. The recent uncertainties hovering over the automobile market, in particular over sales of electric models, as well as the approach of decisive electoral deadlines, are visibly contributing to a much more uninhibited expression of their resistance to change.
Porsche, an emblematic figure of the German automobile industry, is stepping up to the plate against the planned ban on thermal engines. The prestigious manufacturer launched a campaign to promote synthetic fuels at the beginning of 2023. To everyone’s surprise, the German government had made it its hobby horse with Brussels, seeing through this option a possible escape from all-electric. This time, the taboo is overturned. The ban on marketing thermal engines from 2035 is no longer an intangible fact, assures the Stuttgart firm.
“ I think it might be delayed”, launched Lutz Meschke, financial director of Porsche, during the presentation of the Macan, an SUV which will be exclusively produced in an… electric version. According to him, the reduction in government subsidies – or even their elimination in Germany – and the uncertainties hovering over electric car sales support this prognosis. This echoes the offensive led for several months by the far right and part of the right against the European Union’s Green Deal.
European elections
Carlos Tavares, the general director of Stellantis, has also never made a secret of his lack of appetite for “wattage”, which has not prevented his group from planning 40 billion euros of investments by 2030. In the short term, it is citizens who risk undermining the objective of electrification of the market, observes this eminent automobile boss. “ We must keep our eyes open to the outcome of the American and European elections”he recently warned.
For Carlos Tavares, the choice will have to be made between “the dogmatic progressives »favorable to the promotion of electric cars, and “ populists », who want to brake with all four irons. And the boss of Stellantis, who wants “ be certain » that electrification “ is the direction people want to follow », to sound the tocsin. In passing, he advises voters to ensure “ [prendre] be careful [leur] freedom of movement »a hackneyed anti-electric car criticism, but dear to fans of thermal cars.
You have 30% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.