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Prague – Czech Republic and Italy will jointly call on the European Union at next week’s informal summit not to impose sanctions on car manufacturers that do not sell a sufficient share of electric vehicles next year. Transport Minister Martin Kupka (ODS) said this today on the program Partie Terezie Tománkové on Prima. According to him, the achievement of sales targets is unlikely due to the reduction in European demand for electric vehicles.
According to Kupka, the Czech Republic sent a proposal to European countries two weeks ago and agreed on a joint course of action with Italy last week. The countries want to prevent European car manufacturers from having to pay fines starting next year for not having a sufficient share of electric vehicles in the sales of their new cars. “They cannot do it because interest in electric cars has declined throughout the European Union,” Kupka pointed out.
According to Kupka, Germany has no problem with the lifting of sanctions next year. German Economy Minister Robert Habeck, who is one of the supporters of the development of electromobility, agrees with the lifting of sanctions for next year, according to the Czech minister. Kupka also noted that if car manufacturers have to pay fines for not meeting emission targets in the sales of new vehicles, they will not have the money to invest in the development of new electric vehicles.
According to Kupka, the Czech Republic also wants to strive to postpone the validity of the ban on combustion engines for newly sold cars, which is to be in effect from 2035. The European Union should evaluate the setting of this goal in 2026 and, according to Kupka, the Czech Republic wants to lead the discussion next year. He did not specify whether the country has already gained enough support among European partners for such a change. (November 3)