German minister snubs automakers in backing China's quota for EVs
Germany's environmental minister is throwing her support behind an aggressive Chinese plan to boost sales of electric and hybrid vehicles, putting her at odds with her country's automobile industry and some within the German government.
China is considering legislation to require automakers to sell a specific quota of zero- and low-emission vehicles. The figure would start at 8 percent of overall deliveries in 2018 and rise from there in successive years.
"With this proposal, the Chinese are showing investors what they can expect," German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks said in an interview last week. "That's exactly what economic actors need: A clear orientation of what's expected of them."
Her comments fly in the face of opposition to the plan from within the German auto industry, which says such short-term targets are unrealistic and give an unfair advantage to Chinese producers. German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel also voiced his concerns about the matter with Chinese Industry Minister Miao Wei during a trip to the country last week.
The draft from Miao's ministry, released in September, requires carmakers that produce or import more than 50,000 vehicles a year into China to ensure that at least 8 percent of sales are EVs by 2018.
The proportion would rise to 10 percent in 2019 and 12 percent in 2020. Those that fail to meet the target would either need to buy credits from other automakers exceeding the goal, pay penalties or reduce their own output to meet the percentage total. German automakers say the proposal favors smaller, domestic producers.
"The central prerequisite for this is market neutrality," Matthias Wissmann, chief of the German automobile manufacturers association, said of efforts to lower vehicle emissions. "We insist that China creates reliable competition rules and fair market access also for non-Chinese companies -- as well as regulations that are not discriminatory."
Along with the new proposed quotas, China has already taken measures to reduce industrial emissions in smog-filled cities.
"With this proposal, the Chinese are showing investors what they can expect," German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks said in an interview last week. "That's exactly what economic actors need: A clear orientation of what's expected of them."
Her comments fly in the face of opposition to the plan from within the German auto industry, which says such short-term targets are unrealistic and give an unfair advantage to Chinese producers. German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel also voiced his concerns about the matter with Chinese Industry Minister Miao Wei during a trip to the country last week.
The draft from Miao's ministry, released in September, requires carmakers that produce or import more than 50,000 vehicles a year into China to ensure that at least 8 percent of sales are EVs by 2018.
The proportion would rise to 10 percent in 2019 and 12 percent in 2020. Those that fail to meet the target would either need to buy credits from other automakers exceeding the goal, pay penalties or reduce their own output to meet the percentage total. German automakers say the proposal favors smaller, domestic producers.
"The central prerequisite for this is market neutrality," Matthias Wissmann, chief of the German automobile manufacturers association, said of efforts to lower vehicle emissions. "We insist that China creates reliable competition rules and fair market access also for non-Chinese companies -- as well as regulations that are not discriminatory."
Along with the new proposed quotas, China has already taken measures to reduce industrial emissions in smog-filled cities.
