IG Metall expects job rescue through later combustion engine phase-out - Auto Industry at Crossroads: Union Chiefs Warn Against Strict ICE Ban
The automotive industry faces a crossroads as it grapples with the transition to electric vehicles. IG Metall chief Horst Ott and works council chiefs Martin Kimmich and Jörg Schlagbauer from BMW and Audi have expressed their views on the future of internal combustion engines and the potential impact on jobs.
Ott believes that while the old technology should fund the development of new, it should not be clung to at the expense of progress. He supports electromobility, a stance shared by Kimmich and Schlagbauer, who are invested in the shift. However, they want more flexibility and oppose a strict ban on new internal combustion engine sales from 2035.
The EU Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, is at the helm of negotiations regarding carbon emission targets for the automotive industry. Stefan Rouenhoff, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWE), is also involved in these discussions. Schlagbauer warns that EU penalty payments for exceeding carbon emission targets could be 'the death knell for the industry'.
Ott cautions that a strict ban could lead to significant job losses and lack of acceptance. In response, he calls on the automotive industry to preserve announced jobs if the 2035 ban is relaxed. The future of the industry hangs in the balance as stakeholders navigate the complex transition towards a low-emission future.
