Italy’s transport minister says banning sale of fossil fuel cars is a ‘gift to China’

No comments

Home to some of the most legendary names in the automotive world, it probably comes as no surprise that Italy has recently stepped up its opposition to the European Union’s (EU) plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 12 years.

The country’s transport minister and deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini called the rapid switch to electric vehicles (EVs) “suicide” and a “gift” to the Chinese industry. The new rules that the European Parliament just approved will require that car companies must achieve a 100 per cent cut in CO2 emissions from new cars sold by 2035.

Salvini who also leads the rightist League party largely opposes the plan saying that this shift would threaten the Italian automotive industry and that more time and funding were needed to ensure a smooth transition.

Also read: Tengku Zafrul: 15% of TIV for electrified vehicles by 2030, more EV-related incentives to come

“We all care about water, air quality and a cleaner environment … but that does not mean laying off millions of workers and shutting down thousands of businesses,” the Italian transport minister said. “The ideological fundamentalism of electricity alone is suicide and a gift to China,”

Other Post You May Be Interested In

Also read: Review: BYD Atto 3 long-distance drive: 240+ km in a day, how does it hold up on our B-roads?

Italy’s domestic automotive industry employs over 270,000 workers directly or indirectly while also accounting for more than 5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) according to the Italian automotive association, ANFIA.

The country’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italian news that it would offer its own counter-proposal to limit reduction to 90 percent to give industries a chance to adapt.

The Italian automotive industry which consists of brands like Fiat, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, and Ferrari is still heavily reliant on combustion-engine technology. In terms of sales, hybrid vehicles (which includes MHEVs and PHEVs) held a 34.1% market share in new cars sold in Italy in 2022 though petrol and diesel vehicles still have a combined majority in sales with a 47.5% market share.

Also read: Soon, the safest cars will be made by China, not Sweden – GWM’s WEY and Ora, Maxus tops Volvo in Euro NCAP 2022’s best performers

Meanwhile, sales of fully-electric cars in Italy fell 27 percent last year compared to 2021 and accounted for just 3.7% of total new-car registrations.

Also read: Perodua: EVs to overtake ICEs and hybrids in Malaysia by early 2030s – 17 suppliers may not survive the transition

Source: Italy’s transport minister says banning sale of fossil fuel cars is a ‘gift to China’

SHARE NOW
Tagged with

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *