EU carmakers at risk of industry-damaging emissions sanctions, warns Škoda boss – Novinky

There is not as much interest in electric cars as initially expected, because individual countries have not created favorable conditions for their use. In an interview with ČTK, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Škoda Auto, Klaus Zellmer, said this.

For next year, the emission limit for each manufactured vehicle is to be reduced by 19 percent to an average of 93.6 grams of CO2 per kilometer, which almost no manufacturer currently meets.

“I strongly recommend looking to bring forward the review of these limits, which we have to meet in 2025. It is not because we do not have the right cars, see our Elroq electric car that has been delivered new entry with a very competitive price, but it’s because the surrounding ecosystem is lagging behind, building infrastructure, electricity prices, subsidies ended overnight in many countries, including Germany. There are many elements in the market that do not support the demand for electric cars,” said Zellmer.

Transport Minister Martin Kupka (ODS) wants to speed up the review of emissions requirements, which the European Commission is counting on in 2026. He proposes a reassessment of emission targets in relation to the current situation on the market next year.

With the electric car Elroq, Škoda enters the compact SUV segment, the most popular among customers in Europe. Even thanks to the low price, according to Zellmer, the automaker expects the elroq to overtake the larger and more expensive enyaq in sales. According to him, the Elroq has the potential to outsell the Karoq model with an internal combustion engine, from which it is based.

“But it depends on customer preferences. We give them the opportunity to choose between the drives they want. And we will see what they choose because the price is comparable for both drivers. It will be a kind of test of their options,” he said.

Due to the worsening demand for electric cars, Škoda also announced the extension of production of smaller models with internal combustion engines, ie Fabia, Scala and Kamiq, until the end of the decade. “These models were updated in 2023 and are yet to be updated,” Zellmer said.

Last year, Škoda increased its car deliveries worldwide by 18.5 percent to 866,800 cars. Within three years, he wants to reach the level of producing and selling one million cars. According to Zellmer, it is impossible to say whether the automaker will meet the goal already this year or in the following years, because demand in Europe is falling. “The goal is still there, but whether it’s this year or next year, we’ll see,” he said.