According to House of Automobile, the minister's statements on electronic cars will increase the instability of the sector, which has already been hit hard by the outbreak of the coronavirus and the subsequent lockdown. Instead of much-needed support, the minister is only offering damaging testimony to an industry that occupies more than 5,000 people in Luxembourg, they said.
Turmes' statements have caused further confusion, since they do not consider the reality of the sector or that of the national climate and energy plan (PNEC), House of Automobile explains. Furthermore, the association does not see any coherence between the minister's views and the PNEC, which is why they question his personal motives and the government's position in that regard.
The press statement emphasises that no criticism is directed at the general principle of electric cars, but rather at the planned implementation of it, which is considered to be unrealistic. Nobody would doubt the pertinent role that electric cars would have to play in the future, but the evolution of emissions would still need to be observed nonetheless. Furthermore, prices of electric cars remain elevated and recharging stations a rare sight.
According to the press statement, electric cars only made up 1.8% of all registered vehicles in 2019.
