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BMW CEO states Europe must cancel restriction on petrol engines to decrease dependence on China

Europe needs to cancel its plan to ban new fossil fuelemitting cars from 2035 to reduce reliance on China's battery supply chain and play to its technological strengths, BMW's president said on Tuesday.

Oliver Zipse, who has long pushed for regulators to permit different technologies - consisting of alternative fuels like e-fuels or biofuels and hydrogen fuel cell automobiles - said the mood in Europe was trending towards one of pessimism and the area required a brand-new regulative structure to stay competitive.

A correction of the 100% BEV target for 2035 as part of a. thorough CO2-reduction plan would also afford European. OEMs less dependence on China for batteries, Zipse said at the. Paris Motor Program, adding: To preserve the effective course, a. strictly technology-agnostic course within the policy framework is. necessary.

In March 2023, EU countries authorized a landmark law that. would require all new automobiles to have no CO2 emissions from 2035,. effectively banning diesel and petrol cars, and 55% lower. CO2 emissions from 2030, compared to 2021 levels.

Carmakers including BMW, VW and Renault have required the. CO2 targets to be loosened or postponed, fearing the impact of. heavy fines since of lower-than-expected EV sales.

Still, Zipse's home country of Germany has rejected an early. evaluation of the targets, offered the requirement for clearness for market. and the seriousness of taking on climate change.

(source: Reuters)