The European 2035 ban on combustion engines does not make sense for Italy and is harmful to the country’s business, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
“That is not reasonable, and I think there is also a certain alignment by other European countries on our position,” Meloni said in a conference with reporters.
Automaker Stellantis, whose brands include Fiat, is among Italy’s largest manufacturers.
The European Union reached a landmark deal last year to effectively ban new combustion-engine cars from 2035, which would reshape transportation and mark a significant step to reducing carbon emissions in the region.
In November, EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said Europe’s push for its auto industry to go all-electric poses risks to employment and vehicle affordability, urging manufacturers to keep making combustion cars.
