The CO2 law, the EU's main tool to speed up Europe's shift to electric vehicles, was put on hold earlier this month after last-minute opposition from Germany. That surprised policymakers in Brussels and other member states, since EU countries and the European Parliament had alreadyGermany, backed by countries including Italy and the Czech Republic, wants clearer assurances that new cars with internal combustion engines can still be sold after 2035, if they run on CO2-neutral fuels.
Those countries say the law is a threat to Europe's car industry, parts of which are also lobbying to weaken the EU law, which in its current form, would effectively make it impossible to sell new combustion engine cars after 2035.CEO Oliver Blume said on Monday in his view Berlin was "taking the appropriate steps" to ensure e-fuels can be used in new combustion engine cars after 2035.
"There is no conflict between electromobility and e-fuels. I know no other possibility to decarbonise combustion engine cars," Blume said. Reporting by Jason Hovet, Robert Muller, Kate Abnett, Victoria Waldersee; Editing by John Stonestreet, Jason Neely and Alexander Smith