A major voice from Audi just dropped a bombshell. He’s warning that customers won’t simply accept being told what type of car to drive. This executive joins a growing crowd in the auto world who question the European Union’s plan.
The European Union wants to stop sales of new cars with gas engines by 2035. This deadline is coming fast. More and more leaders in the car industry are pushing back. They say the plan might need a serious change.
The European Commission is actually looking at their strategy again. They are even considering exceptions. One idea, pushed by Germany, would let gas engines stay if they run on special synthetic fuels made from renewable sources. This shows the debate is far from over.
A Top Audi Figure Speaks Out
Jörg Schlagbauer, who heads Audi’s General Works Council, is the latest to voice concerns. He shares the view that many Europeans won’t just fall in line with mandates.
He told the German news outlet Automobilwoche that he doesn’t think customers will let politicians or car makers tell them what to drive. Schlagbauer admitted that Audi made some "unfortunate decisions." He noted these were driven by the Volkswagen Group, like betting too early and too strongly on electric cars.
He explained that by focusing so much on electric cars, Audi lost some flexibility in its production lines. This flexibility would have been crucial when the push for electric mobility didn’t quite go as planned.
Despite his concerns about the rushed timeline, Schlagbauer still sees electric vehicles as the future. He made it clear he’s not questioning electric mobility. Everyone will drive electric vehicles eventually, he said. He simply doesn’t believe we are ready for the 2035 deadline. This is especially true, he adds, for the entire system electric cars need to work well.