Briefing

The two faces of the CO₂ targets: a timeline of industry flip-flopping

February 20, 2025

European carmakers and their lobby ACEA are playing a double game: Complain then comply.

One minute they say they can comply with the EU's car CO2 targets. The next, they are demanding the targets be scrapped so they can pollute more. 

This strategy is not a reaction to a real difficulty in meeting the targets, but rather an attempt to weaken already agreed legislation in order to boost profits. 

Explore the timeline of carmakers changing their story:

The European Commission should reject any attempt to weaken the car CO2 targets. Carmakers are fully capable of meeting these targets in 2025, making the likelihood of fines minimal or non-existent.

Rather than weakening the 2025 ambition, the EU should focus on measures to support EV demand, ensuring a smoother transition while maintaining the integrity of the climate goals.

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