End of the line 2035: total stop of Endothermic powered cars.

Europe has decided. From 2035 stop production and sale of cars with endothermic engines.

Alberto Stecca’s comment

The last few days have seen us all anxiously awaiting what is, dare I say it, a historic turning point for our modern society. Last night the European Parliament came out in favor of a determined and courageous decision. A stance as necessary as it is desired, especially by those of us who care about the effective realization of the energy transition. From 2035 there has been a decree to stop the production and sale of cars with endothermic engines. Of course, there are those who have spoken out strongly against the European resolution so much so that, several Italian newspapers have headlined their front pages talking about “the end of the Italian car” or “the end of our economy” referring to the automotive sector and beyond.

Opinions that I certainly cannot share, indeed, in contrast I say something deliberately provocative. Are these newspapers aware that there are manufacturers in Europe (Volkswagen for example) that in two years have converted their production lines from producing endothermic cars to electric cars? Well, if they have done it, why not Italian companies? What exactly have our manufacturing realities lost time in?

Also … enough of this scrambling for a supposed impending tragedy: April registration figures tell us that the best-selling electric car in Europe is the electric Fiat 500, and the Stellantis group in pure electric cars weighs more than Volkswagen. So someone who is preparing in time already is there, even if the volumes are small, the others have 13 years to adjust. On May 25, 1961 John Kennedy decided to land a man on the moon, and that was in July 1969, only 8 years later! Does Italian industry really need more to innovate and change?

What is happening to the Italian automotive industry is actually a direct consequence of a deliberate decision to ignore an inevitable and irreversible process of evolution and updating. It is called progress, it is called staying abreast of the needs of a changing world that we cannot afford to ignore. And to ignore evolution and progress is to commit a sin contrary to even the identity of economic-industrial development so dear to the detractors of e-mobility who perhaps, in fact, just want to preserve the status-quo in their favor. There is no growth without updating. There is no growth without vision.

The 2035 terminus decision is, as I said, a strong signal but beware it is still insufficient. Not to agree with those who denigrate now we need the same determination to move quickly to sustainable energy production, removing red tape from the permitting process for solar, wind, geothermal plants. And at the same time supporting Italian circular economy supply chains, starting precisely with those “batteries” that can first be reused outside the automotive world and then recycled.

The world has changed, Gentlemen, have a good day!