ECR MEP Kosma Złotowski has pressed the European Commission to evaluate how EU climate and electromobility rules, including the 2035 combustion-engine ban, affect the competitiveness of Europe's automotive industry, following reports that Volkswagen Group is preparing to cut up to 100,000 jobs. The Polish MEP's written parliamentary question, submitted on 2 July 2026, warns that the crisis extends beyond Volkswagen, with Chinese competition and rising e-mobility costs threatening the entire sector.
first, for the Commission to assess the impact of EU climate policy and electromobility regulations on automotive competitiveness; second, to consider proposing changes to the pace or method of implementing climate targets to reduce job losses; and third, to outline instruments to strengthen the industry against Chinese manufacturers. The MEP references media reports that Volkswagen's planned redundancies, affecting four German sites, are double the scale previously communicated, driven by the transition to electromobility, Chinese competition, and a market slowdown.
Złotowski's question signals a pushback against the current regulatory trajectory, advocating for a slower or more flexible implementation of climate goals to protect employment. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will indicate whether it is open to adjusting the 2035 ban or introducing new competitiveness measures. The outcome could affect automakers, workers, EU climate policy credibility, and Chinese competitors.
European automakers face potential relief if targets are eased, but also uncertainty; workers risk job losses if restructuring proceeds; EU climate goals may be diluted; Chinese manufacturers could gain market share if EU competitiveness weakens.