Climate and sustainability

• Whether electricity, hydrogen, or synthetic fuel, each of these drive technologies can and must contribute to climate protection. Climate-neutral mobility cannot be achieved without openness to technology.
• The German automotive industry aims to be completely climate-neutral by 2050 at the latest. Our priority is to drive the ramp-up of electromobility. At the same time, synthetic fuels and hydrogen technologies must be quickly launched on the market.
• Bans and restrictions cause costs, fail to consider the interests of consumers, and hamper the goal of climate-neutral transportation. In particular, a ban on internal combustion engines would harm the climate by hindering fleet replacement.
• All European countries have a responsibility to actively promote the development of the necessary production, charging, and refueling infrastructures for all types of drive.
• No traffic jams, no stop and go – we want a mobility system that optimizes traffic through digital innovation and thus conserves resources: For the sake of the environment and the consumer.

Sustainable, individual mobility requires a sustainable mobility system that provides solutions for every need – throughout the whole of Europe. This is why:

• CO₂-free (charging) electricity, intelligent and high-performance power grids and comprehensive charging infrastructures for cars and commercial vehicles form the basis of sustainable electromobility.
• Climate-neutral fuels and refueling infrastructures create climate neutrality where electromobility reaches its limits. They also make the existing fleet climate-neutral and are therefore an important pillar of sustainable mobility.
• Anyone who wants to act sustainably in the long term must consider the raw material and resource balance of every technology and every type of use, from manufacture through the entire life cycle of a vehicle to recycling.
• Shaping the economic conditions for mobility in a sustainable way: Climate protection comes at a price, but must not exclude anyone from individual mobility.

Make Germany as an industrial and mobility location a driver of climate protection.

• Create jobs and prosperity with the transformation (powertrains, digitization), making Germany the pioneer and world champion of sustainable industry.
• In the future, Made in Germany must stand not only for the best quality, but also for the best climate protection. With the latest solutions for electromobility, sustainable battery cell production in Germany, and intelligent solutions to protect resources through recycling management. German climate protection technology can become an export hit if the right conditions are created now.
• Create sustainable mobility systems through the digital networking of all modes of transportation.

• A rapid expansion of the charging infrastructure:
  To achieve one million charging points for electric cars in Germany by 2030, 2,000 new charging points need to be installed every week. Across Europe, at least six million charging points are needed, and if the CO₂ fleet limits are tightened further, around 200,000 charging points will need to be added for every 1% to meet the targets. Many of these must be fast-charging stations so that charging can be as fast as refueling in the future. In addition, the special requirements of electrified commercial vehicles must be taken into account.
• Political conditions that enable more climate protection for less money, in particular the integration of the transportation sector into EU emissions trading.
• Tighter EU fleet limits may only be introduced after careful consideration of all aspects, including economic and social factors. The EU and the German government should only set new climate targets if the ways in which these targets can be achieved are also clear.
• A transparent European rule-making process that involves all stakeholders, thoroughly weighs interests, and provides impetus for new technologies rather than prescribing them.
• Ambitious targets for renewable energies in the transportation sector and instruments that promote the expansion of all climate-friendly energy sources, especially imports from regions with abundant solar and wind resources.
• The transformation must be accompanied by industrial policy. Companies must have access to a toolbox that can be used to promote measures such as investment in modern production methods, employee training, and other measures to accelerate the transition.
• Sensible and Europe-wide coordinated funding programs that support the rapid ramp-up of electromobility in all relevant areas. The current national measures (above all company car taxation, vehicle tax, environmental bonus, depreciation options) should be made permanent.
• The promotion of climate-friendly commercial vehicles should be coordinated and intensified throughout Europe.
• Powerful digital infrastructures and communication networks that enable the optimal exchange of traffic and vehicle information such that intelligent traffic control can avoid congestion and detours, saving fuel or electricity.