Is The European Car Industry Digging Its Own Grave? - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica critiques the European car industry's recent actions and strategies regarding the transition to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). It highlights how the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) initially sought to impose extra taxes on Chinese BEVs to offset subsidies, aiming to protect the local industry. While this move was accepted by the EU, it effectively diminished the competitive edge of Chinese BEVs, which benefit from significant R&D and economies of scale. Subsequently, ACEA successfully lobbied for a two-year extension to meet the EU’s 2025 CO2 emissions targets, delaying stricter regulations that would have accelerated BEV adoption. This delay is seen as a missed opportunity to push the European car industry toward a steady and more aggressive transition to electric vehicles. The article further argues that the European car industry is falling behind China in BEV technology and supply chain development, risking a loss of its competitive position both domestically and internationally. The current tariff protections for European manufacturers are temporary and unlikely