Head of Jeep, RAM, Maserati, Peugeot and other brands says stricter controls on ICE ‘make no sense’
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has dubbed the proposed new Euro 7 emissions regulations as counterproductive as the automotive industry grapples to produce affordable electric cars.
Set to be introduced in July 2025, the new caps on nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide make little sense, according to Tavares, as they do not provide car-makers with enough time to develop and homologate powertrains that will be compliant.
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“It is not helpful, it is costly, it does not bring customers benefits, it does not bring environmental benefit,” Tavares reportedly told media at a round table ahead of Stellantis’ 2022 earnings presentation.
“The ICE [internal combustion engine] emission part is something which just makes no sense.”
Tavares said incentivising car-makers to ramp up electrification is a better course of action ahead of a complete ban on ICE cars from 2035, rather than forcing them to invest further in ICE development to ensure their vehicles meet Euro 7 standards.
Despite being broadly critical, the Stellantis boss did praise Euro 7 proposals to address particulate emissions from brake pads and tyres.
Once introduced, European legislators predict the EU7 rules will save thousands of lives in built-up urban areas, where it expects the levels of NOx emissions of cars to be cut by 35 per cent.
Nitrogen oxide emissions from commercial vehicles are forecast to drop 56 per cent, while emissions from brakes are set to be slashed by 27 per cent.
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