BMW is ready to meet the EU's stricter emissions requirements from 2025. But it is wrong to ban fossil cars, says the director.
BMW CEO Oliver Zipse disagrees with the EU's decision to ban new fossil-fuel cars from 2035.
He believes that it is a mistake to limit technologies that already work, at least without investing sufficiently in new technologies that can contribute to achieving Europe's climate goals.
However, Zipse refuses to postpone the CO2 targets for 2025, as several of its competitors are otherwise demanding.
The director explains that BMW has known the goals since 2019 and has adapted its model policy accordingly.
– We have known the targets for 2025 since 2019, and we have adapted our model policy accordingly and increased the efficiency of our engines, says Zipse.
Instead of focusing only on electric cars, BMW has invested in aerodynamics, engine development and brakes.
– Almost all of BMW's combustion engines now work with 48-volt technology. You have to invest in that kind of thing well in advance.
– Otherwise, as a car manufacturer, you are not prepared for the new rules. We see no reason to postpone the CO2 targets for 2025.
Yet Zipse believes that the EU's ban on new fossil cars from 2035 is nothing more than a mistake.
– It limits successful technologies. But does not create sufficient investment in new ways and technologies that can achieve Europe's climate goals, says BMW's CEO.
Technological openness is "key to Europe's competitiveness," he elaborates.
The director calls for EU countries to communicate better across borders when it comes to regulating the automotive industry.
– The CO2 regulation for new cars is decoupled from the renewable energy directive, which, for example, regulates the CO2 footprint of fuels.
– Why is the oil industry not subject to much stricter CO2 requirements when it comes to fuels?, asks the BMW boss.
– It (the oil industry, ed.) will then have to increase the share of low-CO2 or carbon-neutral fuels, such as E25 or HVO100, it says in an interview with Automobilwoche .
However, BMW is not just sticking with the combustion engine. With Toyota's help, the Germans will have a hydrogen car on the streets in 2028. And according to Zipse, there are several good reasons for that.
– The decision is based on an analysis of what is happening in the global markets: Where is regulation heading and what do customers expect?, says the director.
At the same time, the Germans will develop an electric version of almost all models. The cars will be based on the upcoming Neue Klasse platform. BMW believes that the first car from there will be reminiscent of the classic E30 3-Series.
– 2025 is the perfect time because we would have introduced the next generation of mangle technologies anyway. Now we can combine it with a completely new platform, and that opens up far more possibilities, says Zipse.
