BMW's CEO, Oliver Zipse, has openly criticized the proposed ban on the registration of combustion engine vehicles, highlighting its impracticality amid a significant decline in electric vehicle sales in Germany.
Sales of battery electric vehicles have dropped nearly 70% in Germany, with many buyers considering a return to combustion cars despite initial government incentives.
Zipse argues that the ban will primarily benefit China, as Europe struggles with its dependency on imported batteries. He emphasizes that lifting the ban could alleviate pressure on the automotive supply chain, which includes numerous small and medium-sized enterprises producing essential components for combustion vehicles.
The upcoming CAFE regulations, set to take effect in January 2025, will impose stringent CO2 emission limits that current combustion engines cannot meet. This will force manufacturers to either pivot to electric vehicle production or face steep fines.
As a result, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) is advocating for a two-year delay in the implementation of these new standards, but the European Commission has yet to respond.