European car manufacturers can achieve emission targets
European car manufacturers appear to be capable of achieving emission targets.
Published on September 8, 2025
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European car manufacturers appear to be able to achieve the emission targets that were previously considered “unachievable,” reports NRC.
Last year, European car manufacturers made their voices heard: they claimed that the emission standards that the sector would have to meet in 2025 were unachievable. The risk of billions in fines threatened to hit the already vulnerable industry hard. Earlier this year, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen listened to this appeal. In order to protect the competitive position of European brands vis-à-vis Chinese manufacturers, among other things, the agreements were amended and the targets postponed to 2027. This two-year postponement allowed manufacturers to temporarily scale back their sustainability efforts.
According to an analysis by Transport & Environment (T&E), this will result in millions fewer electric cars being sold.
Broader trend
The relaxation of emission standards for the automotive sector is in line with a broader trend of relaxation in European climate policy. Brussels seems to be increasingly distancing itself from the ambitious green targets set under European Commissioner and “climate pope” Frans Timmermans. For example, it was announced this summer that member states could “buy off” part of their mandatory emission reductions through carbon credits in countries outside the EU, a controversial arrangement. In addition, a proposal to reduce the use of chemical pesticides was rejected, and the introduction of deforestation legislation has been postponed.
