CEOs from 50 companies have called on new EU Commission and MEPs to maintain the 100 per cent zero-emission car target in 2035, whilst others have begged for it to be changed.

The EU has been under pressure from some major manufacturers to re-open its 2035 zero-emission target for cars and vans. but executives from the automotive, clean tech, transport and energy ecosystem including Volvo Cars, Maersk, Uber and Europe’s largest leasing company, Ayvens, say the target is “feasible and necessary”.

This places manufacturers such as Volvo and Rivian at loggerheads with BMW, VW and Renault who have all spoken out against emission targets earlier, saying it should be delayed as it will mean a reliance on raw material imports from third countries.

The rival camp has written a letter to the EU say they are strongly committed to the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goal and point out that many of them have invested massively to make it a reality, with electric utility Iberdrola, retailer Tesco and IKEA’s largest franchisee, Ingka amongt those pushing to keep the deadline.

Jim Rowan, CEO of Volvo Cars said: “Electrification is the single biggest action our industry can take to cut its carbon footprint. The 2035 target is crucial to align all stakeholders on this journey and ensure European competitiveness. We urge EU policy makers to focus on what actions we need to take to get there, rather than reopening legislation just agreed on.”

Car and van emissions account for more than one-eighth (13 per cent) of total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU.

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