Auto industry executives have already expressed their fears about the upcoming Euro 7 regulation, which could spell the end of the internal combustion engine.
Recently, the head of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, went even further, saying that stricter parameters are "useless" and will have a negative effect on the industry, which is still struggling to produce affordable small electric cars, which are supposed to replace its conventional predecessors, Auto Moto Show reports.
Euro 7 regulations are expected to enter into force in July 2025, although the final form and permitted levels of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide have not yet been disclosed. However, in October of last year, it was announced that a "final review" of the new rules was made, based on the "current geopolitical and economic situation." On the other hand, nothing has been officially confirmed for now.
"It's not helpful, it's expensive and it doesn't bring any benefits to the customers, nor environmental benefits," said Carlos Tavares referring to Euro 7, speaking in front of members of the seventh power. "The combustion engine emissions part is something that doesn't make any sense."
This is not the first time Tavares has criticized Euro 7. Last year, he said the new regulation would require carmakers to invest huge sums in cleaner and more efficient internal combustion engines, which would be banned just ten years later.
This will be reflected in the costs in the area of research and development of new vehicles, especially in the segment of small cars, which could become too expensive for buyers.
In an interview from October last year, the head of Volkswagen, Thomas Schaefer, warned that cars from the B segment could increase in price by three to five thousand euros, when Euro 7 comes into force. That would virtually wipe out the small car category, making the vehicles in question unprofitable, even compared to electric equivalents. To remind you, on February 14, the EU Parliament decided to ban the sale of new diesel and gasoline cars in Europe starting from 2035.
