Italy urges EU to pause petrol car ban or risk industry’s collapse

Rome calls for review of ‘absurd’ EU target amid slowdown in electric car sales

Italy has called for a review of the European Union’s 2035 petrol car ban amid fears it risked triggering the industry’s “collapse”. The Telegraph has the story.

Ministers from Giorgia Meloni’s government claimed the “absurd” policy was ideologically driven and required change to reflect the realities of the market.

There has been growing unease across the Continent about a slowdown in demand for electric vehicles (EVs).

There are also concerns that Europe’s car industry is falling increasingly behind manufacturers in China and the US, which have benefitted from a flood of government subsidies.

Last week, car giant Volkswagen warned it might close factories in Germany for the first time owing to issues such as high energy prices. This has prompted calls in some quarters for a rethink of tough EU climate goals which build up to a ban on internal combustion engine cars by 2035.

Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, the Italian energy minister, told Bloomberg: “The ban must be changed.”

Adolfo Urso, the industry minister, added: “In an uncertain landscape, which is affecting the German automotive industry, clarity is needed to not let the European industry collapse.

“Europe needs a pragmatic vision, the ideological vision has failed. We need to acknowledge that.”

Read the full story here.