Fratzscher warns: No loosening of the EU climate requirements for cars!

Fratzscher warns: No loosening of the EU climate requirements for cars!

alarm mood in the automotive industry! Marcel Fratzscher, the President of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), hits his hands over his head and demands immediate measures: The EU climate requirements for cars must remain! In a startled interview with the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung", he urgently warns of the seductive calls of the industry and by Transport Minister Volker Wissing, who require a relaxation of the regulations and a withdrawal of the ban on burns.

"It would be an irresponsible step!" Calls Fratzscher. "If we loosen the CO2 fleet limit values, we ruin not only our environment, but also our own automotive industry! The damage would be immense!" His words are clear: politics must not be guided by short -term interests.

an alarming comparison

"We cannot simply move a wall around Europe and believe that we can continue to celebrate diesel and petrol engine while we lock out e-cars from the USA and Asia!" He says provocatively. "That would be an economic suicide with an announcement!" Fratzscher makes no secret of the fact that the automotive industry faces major challenges, but "the decision for e-mobility has already been made-not by Brussels or Berlin, but in China, India and the USA!"

The switch to electric cars is not a defeated carmaker, but a need to achieve the climate goals and to secure long-term competitiveness. "The traffic sector is one of the largest CO2 emitters. If we operate e-cars with green electricity, we do not emit climatas!", Fratzscher continues.

The future of German car driving

Fratzscher does not leave good hair on the current strategy of some carmakers: “If Germany goes a special path, Volkswagen may be able to save a quarter of a third of his sales figures. But that is not all! So that massive factory closures and a drastic breakdown of the workforce would be inevitable - two thirds of the employees would then have to be sent home!”

The political discussion about relaxing the climate requirements is getting louder, but the DIW President has clear announcements: A car operated for Fossil is necessary to create fair competitive conditions and to enable companies to plan timely. "After all, driving with renewable electricity in China is already cheaper than with gasoline!" Added Fratzscher.

"In short: a clean and cheaper drive will replace the climate -damaging and expensive technologies!" The change to e-mobility is a Herculean tasks that takes time, also to create an expanded charging infrastructure. But every delay would be "catastrophic". Fratzscher's message is clear and courageous: The future of the automotive industry needs visions and courage to change!