EU car industry must speed up electric sales or face billions in fines

RFI
·1-min read
Tough CO2 emission standards came into force in the EU on 1 January 2025, putting additional pressure on European carmakers to boost sales of electric vehicles.

The European car industry faces a pivotal year after tough EU CO2 emission standards came into force on 1 January, requiring a sharp increase in electric vehicle production to avoid hefty fines.

With the imminent threat of fines amounting to €15 billion, manufacturers are now compelled to accelerate the shift towards electric vehicles – or EVs – in the midst of a sluggish market.

Under the new regulations, at least 20 percent of vehicles sold must be electric to avoid penalties. This target presents significant challenges, with EVs making up just over 13 percent of total sales in Europe during 2024.

The drop comes after a strong 2023, when EVs represented nearly 23 percent of new registrations across the EU.

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Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accountied for 15 percent of the market, with 2.4 million electric cars registered that year – a 20 percent increase from 2022.

With EU targets aiming for a drastic reduction in vehicle emissions in 2025 – in tandem with a zero-CO2 goal by 2035 – a continuous rise in the adoption of zero-emission vehicles will prove essential for Europe to achieve its climate objectives.

France to pour €200m into more charging stations for electric cars

Fear of losses


Read more on RFI English

Read also:
French startup raises record sum to build gigafactory for car batteries
EU to launch carbon neutrality plan, will ban petrol-powered cars by 2035
Renault unveils plans for electric city car that won't break the bank

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