New low emissions targets in the European Union mean that car manufacturers must reduce their carbon pollution. Manufacturers, however, are pushing back.
What's happening?
Car manufacturers in the EU will face fines if they don't increase their electric vehicle sales. Unfortunately, according to The Guardian, EVs with affordable prices were inaccessible to the average EU consumer until recently.
Newer options include the latest Dacia Spring, which starts at £14,995 (about $18,700), and the latest Citroën ë-C3, whose basic model costs £21,990 (about $27,450).
Some manufacturers, however, are lobbying for relaxed environmental policies to eliminate fines altogether.
The European Automobile Manufacturers Association and individual manufacturers want decreased pressure to lower their carbon pollution to avoid losing more jobs due to low EV sales.
"Nobody expected us to be in such dire straits when it comes to the transition now," Sigrid de Vries, the association's director general, told The Guardian. "We're in a very different world in many ways."
Why is this situation important?
It isn't that no one in the EU is buying EVs. Car manufacturers in the EU are instead struggling to compete with Chinese manufacturers, as The Guardian detailed.
EV manufacturers in China reportedly have a better handle on resource management, including battery recycling. If car manufacturers in the EU want consumers to buy their EVs, then they need to make wiser decisions about their resources and craft better management strategies.
What can be done to boost EV adoption?
While the German and Italian governments are walking back their goals to reduce pollution, that doesn't mean all hope is lost.
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Cost 💰 Reuters reported that Renault, the automotive group that makes the Dacia Spring, is planning to release more EVs by the end of 2027. While the timing is uncertain, the company also hopes to release an all-electric version of its Sandero car.
It may take time for EVs to become more financially accessible to consumers, but a few affordable options are better than no affordable options. In France, Renault even knocked more than $2,000 off its Dacia in a bid to boost sales, per Reuters Business. And no matter where you live, you can always look into getting an EV for yourself. While the upfront cost may be steep, the long-term savings on maintenance and gas are difficult to ignore.
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