More than 200 CEOs and executives from across the European energy and automotive sectors have united to issue a stark warning to the European Commission: stick to the plan or risk falling behind. In an open letter addressed to President Ursula von der Leyen, the 200+ signatories express deep concern over recent political manoeuvres to weaken the region’s 2035 zero-emissions target.
They argue that policy consistency is vital for investment security, warning that re-opening the debate on transitional technologies creates dangerous uncertainty for investors. With China advancing rapidly in the electrification sector, the business leaders stress that any delay in Europe’s transition threatens to widen the competitive gap and undermine the continent’s industrial leadership.
“Dear President von der Leyen,
Ahead of your automotive package, we write on behalf of more than 200 European CEOs and business leaders to reiterate our September letter, which called for you to take charge of Europe’s electric future, through:
- Maintaining the full integrity of the 2035 CO2 target in place as a critical investment signal for European electric cars and vans, charging infrastructure, batteries, and grids
- Backing it up with bolder industrial and demand action to secure Europe’s leadership in the electric age
We are deeply concerned about recent efforts by others to dilute your objectives. The flexibilities they are calling for which shift focus toward less efficient measures and transitional technologies – are not minor and could significantly weaken the integrity of the 2035 targets. Reopening the door to them would create uncertainty at a time when predictability for investors is essential.
Compromising the full integrity of the 2035 targets will determine whether Europe retains its position as a global leader or falls behind. Meanwhile, China is advancing rapidly in electrification; every delay in Europe only widens that gap.
We urge you to uphold the 2035 target in the Automotive Package and to support it with a bold, coordinated strategy that empowers all our industries to navigate and lead – this critical transition. We remain committed to build and power Europe’s electric vehicle future.
We ask for your political leadership to stay the course, step up with us, and take charge.
Yours sincerely,
Chris Heron, Secretary General, E-Mobility Europe Lucie Mattera, Secretary General, ChargeUp Europe
On behalf of the 200 business leader signatories of the September “Take Charge Europe” declaration. “
Signatories include executives from: ABB E-mobility, AstraZeneca, ChargePoint, EDF, IKEA Ingka Group, Polestar, Uber, Volvo, and many others.