Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume is calling on the EU to be more flexible about the planned 2035 ban on combustion engines. He is calling for a reality check.
Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume casts doubt on the EU's 2035 electric car requirement. He believes that the plan to allow only electric cars from 2035 needs to be thoroughly reviewed in the EU. Blume is calling for a reality check from EU politicians.
The statements were made during the Shanghai Motor Show, where Oliver Blume spoke to the German newspaper Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung .
The VW boss believes that the situation must be assessed continuously. How quickly are electric cars actually being deployed in the member states?
He points out that political flexibility is necessary. Transition periods may be needed if developments do not go according to plan.
The EU has already shown some flexibility. The original CO2 requirements for car manufacturers in 2025 were recently relaxed.
The car manufacturers were given an extra three years to achieve the tough targets. This decision was welcomed by Oliver Blume.
The EU's 2035 goals require political support
Without that relaxation, Volkswagen and other manufacturers would have faced major setbacks. It could have potentially cost billions of Danish kroner.
Blume argues that similar flexibility should be considered for the 2035 ban. A total ban on new cars with combustion engines is a significant step.
He emphasizes that the goal of 100 percent electric cars requires more than just a ban. Active political support is needed, the VW boss believes.
In order for car buyers to actually choose an electric car, several things must be in place. A well-functioning and comprehensive charging infrastructure is crucial.
At the same time, electricity prices must be at a level where it is attractive to drive an electric car. These are important factors in consumers' decisions.
Oliver Blume also opens up to alternative technological solutions in a transition phase. Volkswagen is considering the possibility of launching electric cars with range extenders in Europe.
The future of the internal combustion engine in Europe
This type of technology involves a small gasoline engine. The engine is used solely to generate power for the battery, not to drive the wheels directly.
According to Blume, these cars can help reduce range anxiety. This could make the leap to e-mobility easier for some segments of car buyers.
The technology has the potential to bridge the gap between the current situation and a fully electric future, which Volkswagen sees as a possible way forward in Europe.
The debate about the EU's 2035 targets and the path to achieving them continues in the automotive industry. Several actors express the need for realistic timetables and political support.
The future will show how EU policy and market forces shape the development of passenger cars in Europe. Technological advances and consumer behavior also play major roles.
Even Volkswagen and several other car brands in the same group have fully or partially backed out of the goal of only building electric cars by 2035 at the latest. Read more about it here .
