German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday criticised a reported draft European Union proposal that would require large companies and car rental firms to purchase only electric vehicles from 2030, warning it could endanger Europe’s key automotive industry.
German newspaper Bild Zeitung reported on Saturday that the European Commission was considering the measure, citing unnamed EU sources. The proposal would target corporate fleets, which account for about 60% of new vehicle sales in the EU.
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“These proposals completely miss the point of the current joint needs we have in Europe,” Merz told reporters. “We must not allow [the automotive industry] to be destroyed by focussing on technologies that might not be market-ready enough by a given date for one to rely exclusively on that single technology.”
Merz, who has frequently called for a more innovation-friendly regulatory approach, said that Europe lacked the necessary agility to stay globally competitive. “Europe is not open enough, not fast enough, not dynamic enough — and I want to help change that,” he said.
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He also emphasised that Germany should play a more decisive role in shaping EU policy, citing the country’s financial contribution to the bloc. “Germany has a right to help formulate the EU’s strategic outlook given it finances a quarter of the bloc’s budget,” Merz said.
