Brussels is facing one of its most serious internal conflicts, which could rewrite the rules of the European automotive industry. The fate of internal combustion engines and hybrid cars and the recognition of biofuels as a zero-emission fuel are at stake after a bloc of six countries, led by Italy, officially requested a review of the ambitious plan to ban internal combustion engines from 2035.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has sent a letter to the heads of the European Commission with a categorical request to allow the production of PHEV and HEV models even after the deadline. Thus, the Apennines joined the Eastern European Front, which includes Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
The main argument of this alliance, cited by La Repubblica, is a direct rebuke of Brussels' policy: the Green Deal and its strict rules are to blame for the crisis in the European automotive sector and the decline in new car sales.
East-West divide: Ideology versus reality
While the six countries insist on technological neutrality and the preservation of transitional solutions, strong Western European economies such as France and Spain maintain completely opposite positions. Spain, for example, is one of the EU leaders in the production of electric vehicles and recently announced an investment plan worth 1.3 billion euros to support the EV sector - funds aimed at stimulating production, consumer subsidies and the construction of a network of charging stations.
The pressure on the Commission is not only domestic. The situation in the electric car market is more tense than ever. The recent announcement of Tesla's cheapest model for Europe heralds an incredible increase in competition. The Chinese bell is ringing no less alarmingly: the number of Chinese brands sold in the EU has now reached 26, with their focus entirely on affordable electric vehicles.
The nuances of Germany and the decisive meeting
The position of Germany is interesting. Chancellor Merz, although he did not sign the letter, supports the request to preserve ICE and hybrid cars. The key nuance, however, is that Berlin rejects the recognition of biofuels as "clean", unlike the other six countries.
All this is happening on the eve of a meeting of the European Commission, at which the review of the regulation banning cars with CO2 emissions after 2035 is to be finalized. Although the meeting was expected to be decisive, experts believe that public pressure and the official position of the six countries could lead to the document being postponed and returned for further study.
The authors of the letter call on the EU to "once and for all abandon the ideological dogmatism that has brought entire industrial sectors to their knees." For them, saving hybrids and recognizing biofuels are critical steps to achieving a positive and technology-neutral outcome.