BMW head says that Europe’s ICE ban is ‘no longer realistic’
BMW Group CEO Oliver Zipse says it’s time to pull the plug on the European Union’s plan to ban ICE vehicles in 2035. Clearly this isn’t the first time we’ve seen pushback, but Zipse is now taking it up a notch, despite EV sales going fairly well for BMW and Mini. What’s going on here?
At this week’s Paris auto show – one of the last few auto shows with any clout – Zipse told reporters said that the EU needs to cancel its plan to ban ICE vehicles in 2035 to reduce reliance on China’s battery supply chain.
In a comment designed to set off alarm bells in Brussels, the BMW CEO now says that the ICE ban is “no longer realistic” because EV sales are much lower than expected, and subsidies for EVs are “unsustainable,” according to Bloomberg.
“A correction of the 100 percent BEV target for 2035 as part of a comprehensive CO2-reduction package would also afford European OEMs less reliance on China for batteries,” Zipse said in a report from Reuters. “To maintain the successful course, a strictly technology-agnostic path within the policy framework is essential.”
In 2023, EU countries approved a landmark law that requires all new cars to have zero CO2 emissions from 2035. As of April 2023, new car fleets sold in the EU have a CO2 emission limit of 95 grams, while vans must not exceed 147 grams CO2/km. Rules will tighten again in 2025, as new cars are limited to 93.5 g CO2/km and vans at 153.9 g CO2/km. In 2030, limits will get stricter, leading to a ban on CO2 emissions on new cars and vans sold in the EU from 2035. Hence, as we get closer to that date, panic among legacy automakers is setting in.
Essentially, Zipse now argues that the European auto market could be victim to a “massive shrinking” and that the ban “could also threaten the European automotive industry in its heart.”
Of course, European automakers are feeling the heat from Chinese automakers, which are taking the lion’s share of the market with their lower-priced BEVs or PHEVs. At the Paris show, nine Chinese brands are unveiling new models, all of which could face EU tariffs of up to 45% to counter what the European Commission argues are unfair subsidies to Beijing to Chinese automakers. Still, European automakers are turning out new EVs to stay in the game, with Chinese brands only representing one-fifth of the brands showing new cars, down from one-half of the brands in 2022.
Still, the mood in Europe is rather pessimistic, with Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni calling the ICE ban “self-destructive.” Germany rejected an early review of the targets, and in Paris, the head of France’s auto association PFA is working on ways to revise the targets.
Sales of BEVs and PHEVs in Europe have dropped 4% in the first nine months of the year compared to last year, while BEVs are seeing a steady 12% increase year-over-year in September. But the European auto market is slowing down in general, with sales dropping 18.3% in August.
And the fact of the matter is that automakers will be forced to pay billions in fines – as much as $16.4 billion – if emission limits aren’t reached. BMW and Mercedes are on track to meet those targets this year, but Volkswagen, Stellantis, and Renault are at risk of coming up short, according to Bloomberg analysis. Of course, Tesla has its emissions credits up for grabs to help work around those fines.
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U.S. crude futures edged lower Wednesday to trade below $71 per barrel, after selling off steeply in the previous session on reports that Israel will not attack Iran’s oil facilities.
The U.S. benchmark tumbled more than 4% on Tuesday, after Israel told the U.S. that it will limit its retaliatory strikes to military targets in Iran, senior Biden administration officials told NBC News.
Crude oil prices have given up most of the gains made in the wake of Iran’s Oct. 1 ballistic missile attack on Israel, as fears of an oil supply disruption in the Middle East have eased.
Here are Wednesday’s energy prices:
- West Texas Intermediate November contract: $70.28 per barrel, down 30 cents, or 0.43%. Year to date, U.S. crude oil has fallen nearly 2%.
- Brent December contract: $73.94 per barrel, down 31 cents, or 0.42%. Year to date, the global benchmark has declined about 4%.
- RBOB Gasoline November contract: $2.0378 per gallon, little changed. Year to date, gasoline has decreased about 3%.
- Natural Gas November contract: $2.464 per thousand cubic feet, down 1.36%. Year to date, gas has pulled back about 2%.
Tesla has officially launched its Supercharger network in Chile, which is the automaker’s first entry in South America.
The automaker has expanded its efforts across North America, and most countries in Europe, and it is still gradually expanding in Asia.
But there’s one continent that Tesla hasn’t touched yet: South America.
Late last year, we reported that this was about to change when Tesla started to list jobs in Chile.
A year later, things are starting to happen.
Tesla announced today that it officially launched its Supercharger network in Chile with the first two stations:
Se abrieron los primeros Superchargers de Tesla en Chile. 🚗⚡️🇨🇱
Ubicadas en Quilicura y Curauma.https://t.co/Wsfxgdr16mhttps://t.co/UDao7QIwt9 pic.twitter.com/lpY25yrah6— Tesla Charging (@TeslaCharging) October 16, 2024
One is in Santiago, the country’s metropole, and the other one is in Curauma, on the coast.
Tesla has already opened two stores in Chile, both in Santiago, and the automaker has a service center in the work in the city also:
Tesla is already taking orders in the country and the Chilean Model Y configurator currently shows delivery in “October-November”:
Chile is an interesting choice for a first entry into the South American market. The Chilean auto market consists of only about 300,000 vehicles sold per year.
That’s roughly the number of vehicles sold in Brazil every month.
While the size of the auto market in the country is small, there’s a strong interest for electric vehicles there, which might explain Tesla’s foray.
The country is rich in lithium, a critical material for EV batteries, which has helped create interest for electric vehicles in the country. The government also announced an initiative to allow for only new sales of electric vehicles in the country starting in 2035.
It will be interesting to see how Tesla will compete with Chinese automakers who have so far been leading the electrification of South American markets.
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Environment
Kia EV6 GT facelift finally sheds its camouflage: Here’s our first look at the updated EV
Kia’s sporty EV6 GT is getting an overhaul. With its debut around the corner, the Kia EV6 GT facelift was spotted without camouflage for the first time.
After revealing the updated EV6 in May, Kia’s high-performance GT model is next in line for a refresh.
Kia claims the EV6 has “returned in a more perfect form” with more range, better ride quality, and a stylish new design. The updated model includes design elements from Kia’s latest EV models, like the EV3 and three-row EV9.
One of the most noticeable is the new daytime running lights and taillights with Kia’s “Star Map Signature Lighting.” The new thin LED light design is inspired by constellations, adding to its already bold look.
Kia didn’t stop at the lights. It fine-tuned the exterior, with the EV6’s hood now seamlessly flowing into the front bumper.
The GT-Line model gained additional details, including a 3D-patterned bumper for a lower, more aggressive stance.
Kia EV6 GT facelift spotted undisguised
With Kia’s most powerful EV, the EV6 GT (not GT-Line), next in line for a refresh, we are finally getting our first look at the updated high-performance EV undisguised.
Although we’ve caught a glimpse of the sporty EV a few times already, this is the first time it’s been spotted without camouflage.
The new photos from ShortsCar reveal the EV6 GT’s updated design. You can see the new DRLs and aggressive new bumper design right off the bat.
Like the EV6 refresh, the GT model will include a bigger battery and its fourth-gen batteries, enabling even more driving range. The new EV6 gets up to 307 miles (494 km) range in Korea, up from 295 miles (475 km).
With increased energy density, the new EV6 model can fast charge (10% to 80%) in just 18 minutes.
The interior will include Kia’s latest ccNC infotainment system, featuring dual 12.3″ driver and center screens.
According to TheKoreanCarBlog, like Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N, the EV6 GT will also gain a virtual transmission for that “high-performance car” feel.
2024 Kia EV6 trim |
Starting Price | Range (EPA) |
| Light RWD | $42,600 | 232 mi |
| Light Long Range RWD | $45,950 | 310 mi |
| Light Long Range AWD | $49,850 | 282 mi |
| Wind RWD | $48,700 | 310 mi |
| Wind AWD | $52,600 | 282 mi |
| GT-Line RWD | $52,900 | 310 mi |
| GT-Line AWD | $57,600 | 252 mi |
| GT AWD | $61,600 | 218 mi |
Starting at $61,600, Kia’s EV6 GT is one of the most affordable sports cars (electric or gas-powered) on the market. Despite the upgrades, the new model is expected to start at around the same price.
The updated model is expected to retain the current GT model’s impressive 577 hp and 546 lb-ft of torque. However, with improved aerodynamics and powertrain, will Kia’s new model top the current GT’s 0 to 60 mph time in 3.4 seconds? We will find out soon, with its debut expected by the end of 2024.
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