Auto, endothermic stops to 2035 worries companies ‘tight deadlines and risks for employment’

The day after the vote of the European Parliament on the “Fit for 55” package, which has banned the sale of ‘traditional’ cars (i.e. with internal combustion engines) since 2035, the players in the sector reflect on the impact of this choice for consumers and for workers. As Giuseppe Bitti, Managing Director of Kia Italia, explains to Adnkronos, that taken by Europe “is a drastic and excessive choice, with profound implications even if with a different impact depending on the country”. “The point – he explains – is not for Kia: our group has married the electrification process with a maxi-investment plan up to 2026”: on this approach “we are there”, he reiterates “but if we think on an overall level I believe that it is an ‘excessive’ path. I believe that something needs to be agreed upon by bringing together all the interlocutors of the supply chain “. On ‘forced’ electrification, the CEO of Kia Italia adds, “if a united position could be found in Europe, something could be done but I don’t know if this can happen” since “some groups have embarked on a path of no return with investments. important about cars and batteries “. Bitti recalls the possible heavy employment impact of this process with the issue of “how the supply chain of companies linked to ‘traditional’ cars can be reconverted between now and 2035”. Recalling that “we are talking about hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk in Europe”, Bitti observes that “perhaps the entire industrial system needs to be rethought to minimize the loss of employment”. But the manager also emphasizes the actual impact of this transformation: “Today, a modern Euro6d car is already very effective in terms of efficiency and has an emissions impact in its life cycle equivalent to that of an electric car” . Moreover, he adds, “we must not forget that the production of ‘green’ energy is not without important impacts on the environment. I hope that in the end we will sit around a table leaving aside the more demagogic and exploited aspects” to arrive “at a sharing of timing with a minimum of common sense”. Moreover, with this acceleration on emissions – he adds – soon “it will be impossible to find a car under 20-25 thousand euros”. “It is not an easy process that consumers will pay”, he explains, recalling that “electric cars are more expensive today: but tomorrow with the Euro7 legislation the price gap with ‘traditional’ cars will be reduced”. “On the one hand those with zero emissions will become less expensive, due to economies of scale, while for the traditional ones, which will have to comply with the new regulations, production costs will rise considerably since very expensive interventions on the engines will be required”. , she explains, “supports, in principle, the objectives and general political ambitions of the ‘Fit for 55’ package” – she says “nevertheless she is convinced that a more realistic approach is needed to reach the climate targets, which takes into account the interests of all stakeholders and consumers, based on a technological mix that embraces all technologically compatible solutions “. “The decarbonization of road transport – it is noted in a note – should not be socially and economically disruptive” especially given that “recent developments such as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have increased uncertainties and insecurities”. For Federauto it is “. It is essential to move forward by offering a certain adequate transition period, which is essential to prepare our activities for the upcoming challenges and thus ensure highly qualified maintenance and repair for the cars of tomorrow. ” Hence, in the light of the June 28 meeting of the European Council of Ministers, “Federauto appeals to President Draghi and the Italian Government to support a revision of the decision according to a more realistic and concrete approach, which also takes into account the delicate position of the supply chain. automotive industry and the serious consequences that it will bring to the internal market and to the entire Italian economy “. Paolo Scudieri, president of Anfia (National Association of Automobile Industry Industry), spoke of a risk of ‘social tragedy’, recalling that forced electrification promoted by Europe “in Italy 70,000 direct jobs are put at risk, creating 6,000, with a strong employment gap” “Italian industry – Scudieri underlines – wants to face this transition that we consider important and necessary. But” the electric cannot be the only technology “pushed by Europe – he adds -” we need different times and an olis attitude I think that he considers technologies such as biofuels and hydrogen to equate a scale that today hangs only on one side “. On the ‘forced’ electrification of 2035 – explains Michele Crisci, president of Unrae and CEO of Volvo Car Italy -” we must ask ourselves whether 13 years are few or too many “to get to the stop for endothermic cars:” For me it is enough, it is 2 and a half industrial cycles, but it would be healthy to have intermediate checkpoints as is always done on long-term plans “. On this process – he explains – “the direction has been indicated: now, however, everything else is needed, governments must accompany this process, recharge infrastructures must be developed and national taxation adjusted at European level”. “Governments should think how the companies do: define the targets but validate the plans along the way, adapting them to external conditions: today we are unable to set quarterly or annual targets, let alone at 13 years “. “In short – highlights the manager – I am not frightened by the deadlines imposed by the EU but more by the fact that perhaps the various governments may not facilitate this transition, while instead they must understand that transport is fundamental for the world economy, for Italy. then those on rubber are crucial “.