Brussels: European Commission Vice President Stephane Sejourne has urged the European Union to protect its automotive industry against competition from the United States and China and to reconsider the planned 2035 ban on the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines. Sejourne, who oversees the EU's industrial strategy, emphasized the need for strategic defense during an interview with Italian newspaper La Stampa.

According to Anadolu Agency, Sejourne highlighted the potential decline in European car production and sales, projecting a drop from 13 million to 9 million vehicles if current trends continue. The European Commission plans to unveil measures to safeguard the industry from foreign competition on December 10. While Sejourne acknowledged that tariffs could disrupt the value chain and heighten trade tensions, he stressed the importance of setting conditions for foreign investments within Europe.

Sejourne also advocated for more flexibility regarding the EU's goal of phasing out internal combustion vehicles by 2035. This call comes amidst concerns over European automakers lagging behind their US and Chinese counterparts, particularly in the electric vehicle sector.

The recent performance of European automakers underscores these concerns. In August, Chinese car brands overtook established European brands like Audi and Renault in sales across Europe. Felipe Munoz, a global analyst at JATO Dynamics, noted the positive reception of Chinese car brands by European consumers, attributing their success to overcoming previous perception and awareness challenges.

European automakers are urging the EU to reconsider its stringent carbon pollution standards, relax the 2035 ban, and foster conditions that make purchasing European-made electric vehicles more attractive. The zero-emission mandate for new car sales by 2035 faces resistance from EU countries with advanced automobile production capabilities.