L’ecology yes, but not for the rich? On Wednesday 8 June, the European Parliament voted a historical text banning the sale of thermal vehicles and Europe and 2035.
The text is part of the “Fit for 55” legislative package which should enable the EU to achieve its climate objectives. It was voted by 339 votes “For” against 249 “Against” and 24 abstentions. An ecological revolution according to the defenders of the environment, but also a revolution for the automotive industry which can no longer close its eyes and delay its metamorphosis. While some manufacturers have taken the lead in recent years, all the others will have to work hard to maintain their position in the automotive market. Finally almost all the others since some managed to pass between the drops.
An amendment exempts luxury cars
Via a discreet amendmentluxury manufacturers are exempted from switching to “zero carbon emissions” as our colleague from the MondeAudrey Garric on Twitter.
This so-called “Ferrari” amendment stipulates that models produced at less than 1,000 units per year are not affected by the ban. A point that could be talked about with regard to the inequalities already observed in terms of ecology. But what could justify such a derogation?
It is the Italian automobile industry which is at the origin of this amendment, in order to protect certain flagships of its economy. During a interview given in 2021 to Bloomberg TV, Roberto Cingolani, Minister for Ecological Transition in the Draghi government and former member of the board of directors of Ferrari, justified this request by greater difficulties for top-of-the-range models to switch to electric motorization by continuing to make profit.
A more difficult transition
Quoting Ferrari and Lamborghini, he explained that the low volume of models produced makes it more complex to switch to cleaner engines because of the few economies of scale achievable. If Ferrari announced in 2021 that its first model 100% electric will be released in 2025, there is still a lot of work for the manufacturer and its counterparts before going all-electric.
Roberto Cingolani wanted to be reassuring all the same, arguing that Italy “is preparing to launch a giga-factory program for the production of large-scale batteries” in order “to achieve high-performance battery autonomy” .
Asked by 20 Minutes, MEP Karima Delli (EELV) highlights the symbolism of this amendment which “still favors the wealthiest” and hopes to see the Council of Europe invalidate it on June 28: “It is in this kind of case that the French presidency of the European Union must act. We have a former transport minister, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari which converted to hydrogen, right? The Government must use all its weight to invalidate this amendment and apply the regulations to all. »