Italy and Czech Republic Push to Modify EU CO2 Cap of 94g/km, Aiming to Shield Automotive Jobs from €95 Fines per Excess Gram

Brush Stroke Sunita Somvanshi

Italy and the Czech Republic are calling for changes to EU Regulation (EU) 2019/631, targeting a CO2 emissions cap of 94g/km set for 2025—could this decision alter the future of Europe’s auto industry?

[{"selector":"#anim-04980bba-75e9-46ae-972b-7d2a8935583f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb67378c-6253-4b85-a4b9-eab9f79d2366","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.15069%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-444a2b5a-fcde-4f14-bfd4-fce8d82dc9cd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e85e3ebc-79fa-48f2-8d6a-9ee035ef80e4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca4eaf59-fa07-420d-8389-dcb15e157de6","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-60fb3609-ba23-4406-94d4-26dbc5d99274","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b55a350-5e87-41ab-9264-e50a604ef0f5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5f1ad6da-de00-46e7-9d08-becc9e7eef7c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-57.32165%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: The Autopian

[{"selector":"#anim-a2c2b09f-a8be-4236-a6d9-a9bdce4e2fe0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d49a8ba-0a08-411b-b638-2b0f3c94c6c0","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7715fb92-9b36-4978-968d-0ff0208195ea","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b9d79a8e-5e15-4189-939a-53ae9cf7ff61","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d05de14e-4066-40c5-9310-f3b4498c8b6e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-035b6db3-4e1d-4d0d-a71e-d1666f616253","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Brush Stroke With the proposed emissions standards set to drop from 116g/km to 94g/km, the automotive sector faces fines of €95 for every extra gram—how much will this cost manufacturers and impact vehicle pricing? Photo Source: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (CC BY-ND 2.0)

As the EU pushes for stricter CO2 limits, Italy and the Czech Republic warn that job losses and production challenges could result from the transition to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs).

[{"selector":"#anim-e9735bd2-dd14-4fe8-aac8-0b8821afb392","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6b3cfb9c-7acc-4c2b-ae8d-04b51b47c9a4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.15069%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-966f51be-3701-40eb-ba18-40cdcbb8faae","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3ea1b59-bdc7-49ef-bf9b-b69e6322ed2f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8ed98e9c-32de-489f-a6f3-253bea5d9f6e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-42c60e0b-c407-4f98-a5e4-ba703fe11704","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f9a31671-89cd-4eda-8c5e-d32f4cabab4b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ace3d436-30c0-4d7d-9aed-077ee7caa50d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-57.32165%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-0aafed70-742b-42bc-8c42-5838eb9ffc80","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fed1d320-3807-466e-a5b9-67d26bb40ac3","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b35e5ad3-4fda-487d-831d-e59cca2f7a6b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5f4dfbcd-12af-4568-a0db-c2e9e2ea7714","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1f22414f-1ce2-4471-9804-06a8fd4039e4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-db07819e-d201-4da4-a38b-87c47f9b7ead","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke The Czech automotive sector contributes 9% to the country's GDP, with 1.4 million vehicles produced in 2023—what does this mean for the labor market as BEV production takes over? Photo Source: Challenge Bibendum (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Transport Minister Martin Kupka outlines the pressing regulatory risks: By 2025, each excess gram of CO2 emitted could cost manufacturers €95—how will this change Europe's car sales landscape?

[{"selector":"#anim-c6938346-408c-494b-811a-e48dd6211e35","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ddd5ce1a-119e-48e0-8ab5-47634a25560e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.15069%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e1fa4601-63ae-4720-8c83-e14644b82951","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-473bb529-df0c-4b30-9fce-7defce366654","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d7455083-15c6-4df6-b924-884d6eda148e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b6280124-8b74-4697-8d58-4d051b25149a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a0abc7b5-fd6f-456d-9136-6a6cbe4b01c1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9e2efc72-68e4-446c-9531-671583b1f330","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-57.32165%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: NASA HQ PHOTO (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-806e8b14-4e33-4906-9405-fa1efc65e6a6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-33b055da-4a17-4af1-a64a-b2df38c5c1a0","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef8c69f2-3834-494c-94a9-4a6d89a36176","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-348726f8-cfc6-48e3-a019-064668ae447a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb1b6117-9d88-449e-abe1-4ba904a5cdd1","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cde9e13f-b23c-4cba-b421-9d5a7e9f2039","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Is the EU’s green transition plan achievable, or will a shift toward e-fuels and alternative powertrains be necessary to keep both emissions goals and the economy on track? Photo Source: Avda (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Czech Ministry’s billions in subsidies for electric vehicles are intended to support the transition—will these measures be enough, or could they accelerate industry shrinkage, as BMW CEO warns?

[{"selector":"#anim-cd6f6a0a-ede5-4215-b9cd-932b730e10e3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-697de463-6c24-4ecf-a17d-c575b6c1df68","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.15069%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b43cb10c-255b-4cff-96f8-2d1db43e06d2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7246270c-022d-47fc-ae3c-0a67f3fdb39f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f5840142-456a-46e9-ad20-1363102a242e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c82bc97-804d-41bc-a54a-ae394dfa11a5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab449a50-182f-4863-b400-890c80b43708","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-30668a15-a48f-45d8-b579-07a38a0e0aba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-57.32165%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: Governor Jay Inslee (CC BY-ND 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-cf46a3ba-f2bb-457c-85a1-11c4f1ee1c65","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bcd96b0d-d814-40b8-9f80-7b03924beebf","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b95738cb-321b-4279-affb-cd2d3339c275","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e779d77b-9efe-4a37-8494-259619002348","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b41e6747-fc4f-4f0d-9131-ef395fab6002","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e984a2e2-a527-4f59-acf1-291a5649a6c5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Global competitiveness looms large: Will Chinese manufacturers’ advantage in scale and integration shift the balance of power in the European auto market amid increasing tariffs? Photo Source: The Hinrich Foundation

With the Commission’s evaluation of Tzitzikostas coming up, Europe’s future emissions strategy hangs in the balance—can the EU maintain both environmental commitments and industrial capacity?

[{"selector":"#anim-fc213ca8-66fe-4697-8afc-f5bea73d3a9d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-800fb876-dba4-459e-b3a9-0811db7cddb2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.15069%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9274b12b-25c8-4369-aef7-9e7503b0539b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b220c496-7ae7-410b-8b1b-bff3fbba8921","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d916e42e-eb3a-49af-a5b4-3dfd36fe5d4d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2dde8f3e-2ebd-49a4-8015-576c750ddda1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c938bfa0-1582-4266-8c29-65034d879d7f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8474a473-3849-4d1a-a6a9-6ed04197fa4f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-57.32165%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: European Committee of the Regions (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-f7877a05-11fa-4ee1-9d5c-60e0b0fe6790","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-266009fc-6469-46a2-a4aa-bc211f4b9f35","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-641ead25-d26d-4774-be67-021f39ed9a7b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-806be6dd-a3aa-4f26-8940-e6b56ebb6528","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b73d8646-2d98-4b67-b2f6-c66aaff735b3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e70dc918-1eca-4833-b84f-c448739d3f03","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-156deaf6-7cde-4b07-a7aa-4e7a3289f8ee","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc83e233-4952-4ff0-8e5b-3a62aa038328","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99c8ac08-beec-48f0-be5d-496ef3416ec0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Brush Stroke Tesla's Q3 Revenue Climbs to $25.2B as Energy & Supercharger Networks Lead with 52% Growth Learn more