It's a boost towards the end of the heat engine.
On Wednesday in Brussels, the European Commission is due to present its plan to tighten CO2 emission standards and should therefore propose reaching zero by 2035 - instead of 2040 as provided for by French regulations.
In other words, manufacturers could no longer sell thermal vehicles.
Only 100% electric cars would remain in the catalog.
The challenge is sizeable as electrified models only represented 7.48% of sales in the first half of the year according to the committee of French automakers.
Hybrids, rechargeable or not, should also no longer have the right of citizenship in dealerships.
A leap into the unknown which puts the sector under pressure even if, as Bernard Jullien, lecturer at the University of Bordeaux (Gironde) and automotive specialist, explains, "the gap with countries and foreign manufacturers, particularly Asian manufacturers, is not definitive because everything remains to be done in the electric sector ”.
100,000 jobs could disappear
This ecological transition will be at the heart of discussions at the Élysée on Monday between Emmanuel Macron and representatives of builders and unions.
Luc Chatel, president of the Automotive Platform, will take the opportunity to plead in favor of a massive investment plan of 17 billion euros to avoid a black scenario which would see the disappearance of 100,000 jobs by 2035.
In detail, the organization, which worked with the McKinsey firm, estimates that it would take 6.6 billion euros in particular to help relocate the production of batteries.
Around 8.5 billion euros would also speed up the deployment of charging stations.
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“There is a paradox, notes Bernard Jullien. Manufacturers want to both reduce their costs to improve competitiveness while claiming public aid for the sector ", whether for batteries, charging stations or the purchase of vehicles ..." The deal that could be negotiated by the Head of State, it would be to accede to the multiple requests of the manufacturers to pass this milestone of electrification in exchange for the relocation of the production of small cars, which represent the largest volumes. "And the specialist to salute the movement initiated by Renault which has entrusted to its site in Douai (North) the manufacture of the electric R5.