EU's company car fleet plans under fire by Toscani: 'Saarland should not serve as a guinea pig'
The EU Commission's plan to mandate the use of only fully electric rental and corporate fleets from 2030 could have significant consequences for the Saarland economy and its automotive sector. Given the region's strong reliance on the automotive industry, this policy shift could potentially endanger further jobs along the value chain and pose challenges to central industry branches.
The CDU state parliament faction chairman in Saarbrücken, Stephan Toscani, has expressed concern that Saarland could become a testing ground for centralist EU guidelines. He has warned of the far-reaching consequences for the Saarland economy and stated that this plan would be another blow to the economic location of Saarland.
Toscani has advocated for a "realistic, technology-open approach" in the EU Commission's plan, reiterating the principle of technology openness that is anchored in the coalition agreement of the federal government. He has also appealed to Berlin to enforce technology openness at the European level, urging Germany to take a leading role to prevent the German automotive industry from being driven out of Europe.
The transition to electric vehicle (EV) production will require substantial investment in new manufacturing technologies, supply chains for batteries, and workforce retraining to adapt from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to EVs. Suppliers specialized in ICE components such as engines and transmissions may face decline unless they pivot to EV-related products, potentially causing job losses or requiring restructuring.
Saarland automakers must remain competitive as the EU-wide policy shifts demand. Those who adapt efficiently could benefit from increased demand for EVs in corporate and rental fleets. However, failure to adapt may hurt export potential and market share domestically and internationally.
The policy is designed to boost EV adoption, aligning with climate goals and new industrial trends. This could stimulate growth in EV-related sectors and infrastructure in Saarland, including charging networks and battery recycling.
While no direct detailed analysis of Saarland specifically was found, these conclusions align with broader industry patterns observed in automotive regions facing electrification mandates and known impacts of such regulations in automotive-heavy economies.
Toscani's concern is that the EU Commission's plan might not actually benefit climate protection. He has criticized the plan and declared that it must be stopped immediately.
References: [1] Automotive Regions Facing Electrification Mandates: A Case Study Approach. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342566442_Automotive_Regions_Facing_Electrification_Mandates_A_Case_Study_Approach
[2] The Impact of Electric Vehicle Regulations on Automotive-Heavy Economies. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259004401930232X
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