Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, has asked at the 2022 Paris Motor Show that talks be launched to soften the roadmap established by the European Commission and that sets the death of gasoline and diesel cars in 2035. The top leader of the fourth largest vehicle manufacturer in the world warns of unexpected social consequences.
The Paris Motor Show 2022 has been the scenario chosen by Stellantis to show the public its main novelties related to sustainable mobility that we will soon be able to find in dealerships. However, the showcase that this event represents has also been used to analyze the current panorama and the future that is glimpsed for the European automotive industry.
Europe has embarked on an ambitious process of switching to electric vehicles. The roadmap established by the European Commission is clear in this regard, in 2035 the sale of gasoline and diesel cars will be prohibited. In short, the death date of the internal combustion engine has been set. Nevertheless, Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, the fourth largest vehicle manufacturer in the world, warns that there will be social consequences.
Stellantis advocates “softening” the European Commission’s roadmap
The top leader of Stellantis has made some important statements in this regard. Tavares advocates softening the roadmap imposed by the European Commission under the premise of preventing the middle classes from seeing their freedom of movement diminished. Furthermore, for the CEO of Stellantis, the hybrid car must play a leading role in this entire process that has been started.
“It is essential,” Tavares said when asked if it was necessary to debate the ban on thermal cars. And he went a step further, warning that the European authorities may find themselves facing serious social problems derived from said decision: «The dogmatic decision that was made to ban the sale of thermal cars in 2035 has social consequences that are not manageable».
Tavares’ comments come as the European Union is finalizing a package of climate proposals, which currently includes an effective ban on the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines from 2035. This would ultimately mean a scenario in which only the battery electric car and/or hydrogen fuel cell will have a place in the dealerships.
Stellantis warns that new cars will become prohibitive
Tavares went a step further on the forced switch to electric vehicles. The CEO of Stellantis commented again that being more expensive than fossil fuel or hybrid equivalents will make car ownership unaffordable for many: “If you deny the middle classes access to freedom of movement, you are going to have serious social problems.».
On the other hand, hybrid technology has been put in the spotlight. Tavares says some manufacturers have embraced hybrids, especially plug-in hybrids, as a bridge technology to fully electric vehicles and have argued that after investing billions of euros in the technology, they should be able to sell them for longer.
“What we have to offer our European leaders is a transitional solution. With a light hybrid car, it is possible to maintain the affordable size of these vehicles and reduce CO2 emissions by 50%”, assured Tavares.