Over the past few months, EV adoption across Europe has failed to meet expected levels of growth, which has prompted many automakers – including Ford – to scale back investments in that area, as well as production plans. Problem is, the European Union has long pushed a zero-emissions mandate that seeks to ban the sale of new ICE models by 2035 (with the exception of certain hybrids), with a series of stair step goals that automakers will be required to meet between now and then. Some thought that the European Union may choose to weaken these rules as a result of shifting consumer demand, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.
According to Reuters, European Union climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra was recently asked if the EU planned to change its emissions rules in the wake of a push from the political group dubbed European People’s Party, but responded “No. The answer is no.” Currently, a number of automakers are expected to miss C02 targets set for 2025, reportedly costing them a collective 15 billion euros ($15.8 billion USD) in fines if that’s indeed the case.
Ford is one of several automakers that won’t be challenging these proposed rules, even though The Blue Oval could be facing some of the largest fines of any automaker for not meeting those standards. FoMoCo recently announced that it will be laying off thousands of workers across Europe and is scaling back production of the Explorer EV and Capri EV in Germany amid weak demand, too.
At the same time, Ford is calling for Europe to implement robust EV incentives as a way conjure up demand among consumers, a sentiment shared by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Regardless, after ditching its plan to go all-electric across its European lineup by 2030 or sooner recently, Ford will instead continue to build and sell ICE vehicles and hybrids there as long as it possible can – though it’s also pivoting away from the passenger vehicle segment and more toward the profitable and successful commercial-focused Ford Pro business, too.
Comments
What a dumb ass. Prepare for a bloodbath in the European auto sector. Hope these woke governments can handle the inevitable civil unrest bound to take place over this.
Completely agree! The biggest war in the world right now is the globalist communist cabal against the rest of us. That’s why they want to take away our guns, so they can take away our ability to fight back.
And our personal cars so the can control and track our movements.