Time.news – The Minister for Ecological Transition, Roberto Cingolani, would like to negotiate with the European Commission an exemption for luxury car, the beating heart of Italian Motor Valley, to the strict parameters on emissions that provide for l‘goodbye to thermal engines by 2035.
On the sidelines of the Cernobbbio Forum, he told Bloomberg TV that – while supporting the EU’s commitment to reduce emissions by gradually eliminating the most polluting engines – the supercar sector “is a niche” and that “Discussions are ongoing with the European Commission“on how the new rules would apply to high-end automakers that sell a very limited number of vehicles compared to traditional manufacturers.
“These cars need a very special technology as well they need batteries for the transition“, explained Cingolani.” An important step is for Italy to acquire autonomy in the production of high-performance batteries “, he said, which is why the country is ready to launch a” giga-factory program “for the production of batteries. on a large scale.
The closure of Brussels
However, a first closure to possible exemptions arrives from Brussels: “I am not aware of any ongoing discussions“On the proposal to exempt luxury cars from the zero emission plan for new vehicles starting from 2035; “all cars will have to contribute to the achievement of the objectives presented in July with the Fit for 55 package“. Tim McPhie, spokesman for the European Commission, said this very clearly in the daily briefing to journalists.
Asked about the positions of Minister Cingolani, regarding the exemption of luxury cars from these objectives, the spokesman recalled that “the Commission does not express evaluations on the comments”. However, “the exceptions currently in force for car manufacturers that produce between 1,000 and 10,000 vehicles per year will be removed by 2030 under the proposal we made in July ”, he concluded. The holder of the Ecological Transition ministry was instead more optimistic: the exemption “is something we are discussing with other partners in Europe; I am convinced that there will be no problems”, he had always declared to Bloomberg.
The minister’s warning
Already in the aftermath of the presentation by the European Commission of the maxi package of laws for the climate (on July 14), Cingolani had expressed strong concerns about the survival of the Motor Valley under the announced conditions. “It is clear that there is a huge opportunity also in electrification but think of the Motor Valley. It has been communicated by the European Commission that even niche productions, like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, McLaren, will have to adapt to full electric. This means that with constant technology, with constant set-up, we close the Motor Valley“, he said speaking at the Symbola Foundation Summer Seminar.” If today we thought we had a 50% penetration of electric cars, we wouldn’t even have the raw materials to do it, we wouldn’t have the grid to manage it. We are talking about nine years out of a 14-year production cycle, to think that the super sports car niches are readjusted is no “, he added.
What is the Motor Valley
The Motor Valley is a unique industrial district in the world strong of 16,500 companies and over 90,000 employees, with 16 billion in annual turnover and an export of 7 billion. Famous brands all over the world have their roots and headquarters here: Automobili Lamborghini, Dallara, Ducati, Ferrari, Haas, Magneti Marelli, Maserati, Pagani and Toro Rosso. It brings together 4 international racetracks (Modena, Varano, Imola and Misano), 6 specialized training centers, 6 manufacturers, 13 museums, 18 collections, 10 operators in the sector and 188 sports teams.
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