The auto industry has a slim chance to accelerate its recovery after being driven to its knees by the Commission’s Green Deal legislation, ECR MEP Alexandr Vondra (Czechia) said today after the European Parliament voted to adjust emissions legislation.

The changes, led and championed by the ECR Group, will “give this vital industry, which is a global asset for Europe, a chance to compete again” but it’s “nowhere near enough to save the high-quality jobs this sector supports,” Mr Vondra said.

The vote to amend the legislation allows manufacturers to average fleet CO₂ emissions over a three-year period, rather than annually, helping mitigate the impact of short-term disruptions such as supply chain issues or delayed model rollouts.

Mr Vondra said:

“If the Commission thinks this is enough to satisfy the industry it should come to Czechia and listen to the views of our vehicle manufacturers.

“Averaging out the fines over three years is a small step towards our group’s bigger goal of making Europe’s emissions policy balanced and responsive to people’s concerns about the cost of living.

“The Commission’s obsession with greening the auto industry at any cost is a colossal strategic error that is wrecking jobs here and creating billionaires in China.”

Carlo Fidanza MEP, head of the Italian delegation to the ECR Group, said:

“It’s better late than never. The Commission is finally beginning to realise the old majority in Parliament for its green wishlist is rapidly ebbing away.

“But as things stand, the vote is nowhere near enough to reverse the crisis in the sector.

“We want to see a comprehensive unpicking of this burdensome legislative package, which punishes the people least able to afford it.”

The ECR Group continues to push for a revision of the ban on the sale of new vehicles with internal combustion engines by 2035.