MEPs from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group have criticised the European Commission’s action plan for the automotive industry, warning that the proposal falls far short of what is needed to keep European manufacturers competitive.

They point to rising production costs, the green transition, and increasing pressure from Chinese imports as major challenges that remain unaddressed.

Speaking in today’s debate in the European Parliament, Alexandr Vondra, ECR Coordinator in the Environment Committee (ENVI), called for substantial changes to the Commission’s plan. He urged that the proposed three-year average for fines be extended to at least five years. He also called for an end to the exclusive focus on electromobility, arguing instead for a technology-neutral approach that includes synthetic fuels, biofuels and hybrids. In addition, he stressed the urgent need to address heavy-duty commercial vehicles, which are currently excluded from the Commission’s proposals.

Mr Vondra said:

“The European Commission’s automotive policy is a catastrophe. For five years, I have been criticising the path the European Commission was imposing on us: a path of bans, orders, nonsensical regulations and grants; a path that is in contradiction to consumers’ preferences and to economic reality. It is a path to catastrophe.”

The ECR Group has long argued that EU policy must focus on deregulation, cost reduction, and fair competition. Although the Commission’s new proposals acknowledge some of the challenges facing the sector, they continue to cling to ideological climate targets that threaten to undermine Europe’s industrial base.

Mr Vondra added:

“The Commission is realising it and starting to fix what was imposed on us. OK, but too little.”

He continued:

“What’s important now are three things: First, the three-year average on fines is not enough. We need more, at least five years.

“Second, the one-sided attachment to electromobility must end. We must go the way of technological neutrality, including combustion engines for synthetic fuels and other tools.

“Third, a review in 2025 is OK, but you don’t deal with heavy-duty vehicles at all. We must do much, much more.”

Parliament is expected to vote on the text in April.