Volkswagen hopes to avoid hefty EU emissions fines

(FILES) The logo of German carmaker Volkswagen (VW) is pictured on the main plant of the group in Wolfsburg, northern Germany, on March 22, 2022. – German automotive giant Volkswagen said on September 2, 2024 it could close production sites in Germany, as the auto industry struggled to manage rising costs. (Photo by Yann Schreiber / AFP)

Frankfurt, Germany — Volkswagen wants to boost sales of electric cars to avoid 1.5 billion euros ($1.56 billion) in fines under stricter EU carbon emissions targets, a source at the German car giant said Tuesday.

“1.5 billion is the risk… That’s the fine we would be facing, the theoretical amount if we would do nothing at all,” the source told AFP.

“We have new [electric] models coming. That’s not the value we expect for the year,” the source added.

READ: Volkswagen deliveries fall in 2024 amid China woes

From this year, the European Union is lowering the average emissions that new vehicles sold in the bloc are permitted to produce, with carmakers facing hefty fines if they fail to comply.

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Several EU countries including France and Italy had urged Brussels to ditch the penalties for embattled European carmakers, who have been plunged into crisis by a stuttering switch to electric vehicles and increasing competition.

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Xavier Chardon, who heads Volkswagen in France, told AFP that the group was counting on the French and German markets above all to boost sales of electric cars.

In a separate statement, the 10-brand group, which apart from its namesake also owns Audi, Skoda and Seat, said that previously introduced and upcoming all-electric models would help the firm achieve the EU target.

One way of avoiding fines would be the purchase of other carmakers’ unused carbon credits. However Volkswagen said it hopes to avoid fines “primarily through its own efforts, based on the positive product momentum”, according to the statement.

“There is no doubt that the 2025 targets represent a particularly significant challenge, as sales of electric vehicles across the industry have not been meeting expectations,” it added.

In Germany alone — Europe’s biggest auto market — electric car registrations fell 27.4 percent in 2024, hit in particular by the removal of government subsidies.

They now make up of 13.5 percent of all vehicle registrations, compared to 18.4 percent in 2023.