European automakers warn of job cuts

A lobby group representing European automakers warned Tuesday that EU proposals for cutting emissions of carbon dioxide could result in manufacturing job losses.

According to the European Commission, cars are responsible for about 12 per cent of total emissions of CO2, the main greenhouse gas, in the 28-nation bloc.

“Overly stringent CO2 targets, as well as unrealistic sales quotas for battery electric vehicles, could lead to serious structural problems across the EU,” the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, or ACEA, said.

The ACEA cited a self-commissioned report, which claimed that because all-electric vehicles require fewer parts and maintenance, fewer workers will be required. The Brussels-based group said the auto industry accounts for over 11 per cent of EU manufacturing employment.

The European Parliament’s environment committee is expected to vote next week on new emissions targets for the period after 2020. The parliament’s plenary would then vote on the issue in early October.

The EU’s existing target is for new cars to have average CO2 emissions of 95 grams per kilometre by 2021 — equivalent to fuel efficiency of 4.1 litres of gasoline per 100 kilometres, or 57.4 miles per gallon. That is a drop of 40 per cent from the 2007 average of 158.7 grams per kilometre.