Chahim: EU's Automotive Action Plan threatens Europe's future

The European Parliament’s recent endorsement of the EU Automotive Action Plan has sparked criticism, with MEP Mohammed Chahim warning that it risks leaving Europe behind in the global race for electric vehicles (EVs). Chahim, a member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (GroenLinks-PvdA in the Netherlands), likened the move to Nokia’s failure to adapt to the smartphone revolution, a decision that ultimately led to its downfall. "Nostalgia is good, but not if it lets you stick in the past. Not if it blocks innovation, not if it blocks change", Chahim stated.

“Today, I feel like I’m in the boardroom of Nokia when the iPhone was just released,” Chahim said in his speech. “The touchscreen, the ability to browse the internet and play music; it was revolutionary. But Nokia responded by trying to make the keyboard phone more attractive instead of embracing innovation. And we all know how that story ended.”

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The EU Automotive Action Plan weakens carmakers' emissions targets, giving them until 2027 to comply with environmental regulations. According to Chahim, this delay is a short-sighted decision that benefits only two groups. “With these plans, with these delays to switch to zero-emission vehicles in Europe, I only see two winners: Companies that are lagging behind, only looking at short-term gains, and China, who already leads the EV market and sees the competition sabotaging itself,” Chahim stated. He also pointed out that the delayed transition to EVs will slow the development of a second-hand market, which is crucial for making electric mobility accessible to more Europeans.

Mohammed Chahim

Automakers welcome the delay, critics warn of consequences

While European automakers have welcomed the relaxed targets, arguing that they need more time to scale up EV production and charging infrastructure, critics argue that the move jeopardizes Europe’s long-term competitiveness.

By comparison, China continues to accelerate its advancements in EV technology, including the development of solid-state batteries with ranges exceeding 1,500 kilometers. “While we are talking about range extenders and debating flexibilities for penalties on companies that made more than 100 billion in profits in the last years, China invests in solid-state batteries. This cannot be our answer,” Chahim warned.

A call for stronger policies

Rather than rolling back emissions targets, Chahim argues that the EU should focus on creating conditions that make EV adoption easier across Europe. He advocates for measures such as an electric corporate fleet, social leasing programs to make EVs affordable for all Europeans, and a regulatory framework encouraging investment in future-proof technology rather than clinging to outdated models. “We need to make EVs accessible for all Europeans,” he emphasized.

Chahim’s warning comes at a crucial time for Europe’s automotive industry, which faces increasing competition from Chinese manufacturers and a rapidly shifting global market. By delaying its green transition, Europe risks repeating Nokia’s fate, failing to adapt to a technological revolution and losing its industry leadership. “It’s not the goals we set eight years ago that threaten our future,” Chahim concluded. “It’s the lack of innovation.”