It is a blank note that circulates in ministerial offices and European bodies. In European jargon, we call it “no paper”. It is not signed, but it comes from a major car manufacturer, whose CEO is also the president of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association in Brussels (ACEA). Everyone will have recognised Renault and Luca de Meo, even if the company has not made any comment.
This document advocates the use of a little-known provision, Article 122.1 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), a kind of “European 49.3”, which would allow the urgent postponement of the application of the regulation, bypassing the Strasbourg Parliament.
The objective of this document, which The world According to what you have read, it is to postpone from 2025 to 2027 the tightening of the so-called CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) rule relating to carbon dioxide emissions. From 2025, the average threshold authorised per vehicle will decrease by 15%, reaching a maximum of between 90 grams and 95 grams of CO2 per kilometre (a figure that varies according to calculations and brands). A car manufacturer that exceeds the limit will face a fine of 95 euros per excess gram. for each car sold. Taking into account current sales in the European market, in 2025, Renault’s rating estimates that “Penalties could reach 13 billion euros for passenger cars and 3 billion for commercial vehicles”.
A very efficient thermal vehicle, the note recalls, currently emits an average of 120 grams of CO2 per kilometre. Therefore, to comply with the CAFE standard, a manufacturer must sell a “power” (100% electric) for four thermal engines. However, the European electricity market “has stagnated for more than a year at less than 15% for passenger cars and 7% for utility vehicles”specifies the document. Which makes the goal impossible to achieve.
Three solutions to avoid the fine
To avoid the fine, manufacturers have three solutions. The first, the note warns, would be dramatic for employment. It involves reducing the production of thermal vehicles by more than two million units and that of vans by 700,000 units, “the equivalent of more than eight European factories”.
The second is to reach an agreement with American or Chinese manufacturers (Tesla, Volvo, a subsidiary of Geely, or MG for example) to buy carbon credits from them. But this “group” This amounts to subsidising competitors, at a time when Europe is trying to introduce customs duties to curb them. “In any case, details the note, Given the current market share of electric vehicles in Europe, pooling would not be sufficient. to avoid fines.
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