European Auto Industry Urges Immediate Action as EV Demand Drops, Calls for Accelerated CO2 Regulation Review

European Auto Industry Urges Immediate Action as EV Demand Drops, Calls for Accelerated CO2 Regulation Review

(IN BRIEF) The European auto industry, represented by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), has called for urgent intervention from EU institutions due to a decline in demand for electric vehicles (EVs). The industry is concerned about meeting the 2025 CO2 emission targets and suggests bringing forward the review of CO2 regulations for light and heavy-duty vehicles to 2025, instead of the planned 2026 and 2027. ACEA cites insufficient charging infrastructure, economic challenges, and a lack of incentives as key barriers to the widespread adoption of EVs. Without immediate action, the industry risks production cuts, job losses, and weakened competitiveness.

(PRESS RELEASE) BRUSSELS, 19-Sep-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — The European auto industry is sounding the alarm over the declining demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in the European Union, calling for immediate action from EU institutions to address the issue. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has urged the EU to introduce urgent relief measures ahead of the 2025 CO2 emission targets for cars and vans. ACEA also recommends accelerating the scheduled reviews of CO2 regulations for light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles from 2026 and 2027, respectively, to 2025.

Despite significant investment in electrification, European auto manufacturers are concerned about the slow adoption of zero-emission vehicles. Recent data from ACEA shows a consistent drop in market share for electric cars, raising concerns about the industry’s ability to meet upcoming emission targets. ACEA attributes this decline to the lack of critical infrastructure, including sufficient charging stations and hydrogen refueling facilities, as well as broader economic challenges, such as access to affordable green energy and raw materials.

The ACEA Board emphasized the need for immediate intervention, stating: “We have invested heavily in zero-emission technologies, but the broader ecosystem required for widespread EV adoption—charging infrastructure, consumer incentives, and secure supply chains—has not developed fast enough. The transition is becoming increasingly difficult, and without swift action, the EU’s auto industry faces risks of production cuts, job losses, and reduced competitiveness.”

The industry group also warned that waiting until 2026 or 2027 to review CO2 regulations would be too late. Without urgent adjustments, auto manufacturers could face significant fines or be forced to cut production. The ACEA believes that revising these regulations sooner would help restore competitiveness and mitigate strategic vulnerabilities, particularly as the EU faces growing competition from other global auto manufacturing regions.

ACEA remains open to discussions on a short-term relief package for the 2025 CO2 targets and calls for a fast-tracked, comprehensive review of CO2 regulations for both cars and trucks to ensure the zero-emission transition stays on track and safeguards Europe’s industrial future.

Notes for editors

• EU car sales are still around 18% lower than pre-pandemic levels in 2019
• Year-to-date EU battery-electric sales volumes have dropped 8,4% in an already shrinking market
• Year-to-date EU battery-electric market share has dropped from 13.9% last year to 12.6% this year
• The market decline is affecting many brands, including and beyond ACEA members, across the board (ACEA August car registration data)
• Only 16% of European non-EV owners are considering that their next vehicle purchase will be an EV, down from 18% in 2021 (McKinsey, 2024)
• In parallel, almost 20% of the current BEV owners said to be likely or very likely to switch back to combustion engine vehicles (McKinsey, 2024)
• EU needs 8 times more charging points per year by 2030 to meet CO2 targets– ACEA report Charging ahead: accelerating the rollout of EU electric vehicle charging infrastructure
• Electric cars: Tax benefits and incentives – ACEA report (2024)

About ACEA
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) represents the 15 major Europe-based car, van, truck and bus makers: BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Ferrari, Ford of Europe, Honda Motor Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Iveco Group, JLR, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, and Volvo Group

Visit www.acea.auto for more information about ACEA, and follow us on http://www.twitter.com/ACEA_auto or http://www.linkedin.com/company/ACEA/

About the EU automobile industry

• 12.9 million Europeans work in the automotive sector
• 8.3% of all manufacturing jobs in the EU
• €392.2 billion in tax revenue for European governments
• €101.9 billion trade surplus for the European Union
• Over 7% of EU GDP generated by the auto industry
• €59.1 billion in R&D spending annually, 31% of EU total

Media Contact:

Ben Kennard
Senior Communications Manager
bk@acea.auto, +32 485 88 66 44

SOURCE: ACEA