EC Listened to Italy on Auto Industry, Says Urso

Brussels: Business and Made in Italy Minister Adolfo Urso announced that Italy has achieved a significant victory as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed to allow the car industry an additional three years to comply with the new EU emission targets. Instead of facing substantial fines for not meeting the targets by 2025, the industry now has until 2028.

According to Ansa News Agency, Urso expressed his satisfaction following von der Leyen’s announcement at the conclusion of the second meeting of the Strategic Dialogue on the future of the European automotive industry. He emphasized that the European car industry’s future has been safeguarded with the European Commission’s agreement with Italy.

Urso highlighted that the removal of the threat of fines, which could have led to the industry’s downfall, was a crucial achievement. He also mentioned the need to proceed with technological neutrality, strategic autonomy in battery production, and the implementation of a European incentive plan.

The new standards mandate that one-fifth of all car sales must be electric vehicles (EVs), marking a significant shift in the automotive sector’s approach to sustainability.