Proposal requested for a worker radiation safety directive by Commission, addressing risks from ionizing radiation exposure.

The automotive industry is facing a significant shift as the European Union (EU) moves towards a complete transition to electric mobility by 2035. This ambitious plan, outlined in the EU law, aims to reduce the average CO2 emissions of annually sold passenger car fleets to zero. However, concerns have been raised by industry leaders, with Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius among them.

Källenius, who also serves as the honorary president of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association ACEA, has expressed his apprehensions about the EU's plan. He believes that the strategy could potentially lead to strategic dependence on Asia, particularly in the battery value chain. China, with its dominance in processing and refining lithium and other raw materials for high-voltage storage, poses a significant concern.

Källenius points out that China has been strategically expanding in this area for 25 years and now has almost a monopoly in the field of battery raw materials. This could potentially lead to a near-monopoly in the industry for China, a situation that Källenius finds troubling.

The Union, however, seems to be pushing back against this ban. Recent consultations in the Chancellery suggest that they are seeking to overturn the combustion engine ban. The coalition agreement between the Union and the SPD includes the term "technology openness," which could be interpreted as a push for more diverse sources for battery raw materials.

The CSU leader, Markus Söder, also plans to push for the abolition of the combustion engine ban in the coalition. This stance is shared by political figures like Friedrich Merz, who criticized the EU's combustion engine ban during the election campaign.

To address these concerns, a summit with car manufacturers and suppliers is to be convened to discuss the new car strategy. The meeting, prepared by several party leaders, aims to find concrete solutions to make the EU's CO2 policy framework fit for reality, focusing on decarbonization, competitiveness, and supply chain resilience.

Interestingly, the EU seems to favour plug-in hybrids, which are vehicles with an electric and a gasoline engine, as an alternative to fully electric vehicles. The SPD largely adheres to the EU's combustion engine law but is open to cars with hybrid or range extender technology.

The Union also proposes giving car manufacturers more self-responsibility in implementing the ban, allowing them to decide which clean motors can achieve the EU's CO2 neutrality limits. This approach could potentially provide more flexibility for manufacturers to navigate the complexities of the transition to electric mobility.

As the automotive industry navigates this significant shift, the debate around the EU's electric mobility transition continues, with concerns about strategic dependence on Asia in the battery value chain at the forefront. It remains to be seen how these concerns will be addressed and what the final outcome of the transition will be.

Proposal requested for a worker radiation safety directive by Commission, addressing risks from ionizing radiation exposure.