Summarised by Centrist

Italy is calling on the European Union to delay its 2035 ban and is warning that sticking to it could collapse Europe’s car industry. Ministers from Giorgia Meloni’s government have labelled the ban “absurd” and ideologically driven. 

Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said, “The ban must be changed,” while Industry Minister Adolfo Urso added, “Clarity is needed to not let the European industry collapse. The ideological vision has failed.” 

With EV sales slowing and competition from China and the US rising, Italian officials say it’s time to rethink and are concerned that Europe is falling behind global competitors. 

They say manufacturers in China and the US, in particular, benefit from large government subsidies.

The growing strain on Europe’s car industry has been made apparent by Volkswagen’s warning that it may close factories in Germany due to high energy prices and a weak EV market. 

Northvolt, Europe’s leading battery maker, also recently announced job cuts and scaled-back commitments due to the “challenging” EV market. 

These pressures have led to calls for a more flexible approach to EU climate goals.

Although Italy is not against electric vehicles, it argues that the transition to clean energy must include other technologies to prevent further damage to the continent’s automotive sector.

Read more over at The Telegraph and The Daily Sceptic