ZDK and MOBILIANS Welcome Franco-German Understanding on the EU Automotive Package
Thomas Peckruhn and Virginie de Pierrepont: Realistic CO₂ targets and greater flexibility send important signals for Europe’s automotive industry Berlin/Paris, 19. October 2026. The German Association for Motor Trades and Repairs (ZDK) and MOBILIANS, the French association representing automotive and mobility services, welcome the joint Franco-German position on the EU Automotive Package. The understanding reached by German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron sends an important signal in favor of a European automotive policy that better reflects economic and technological realities. In particular, the proposed adjustment of the 2035 CO₂ fleet targets and the introduction of additional flexibility offer new perspectives for the transformation of the transport sector.
“The Franco-German understanding is an important step in the right direction. European automotive policy must reconcile climate protection with industrial competitiveness. To achieve this, we need realistic framework conditions, technological openness and sufficient flexibility to enable manufacturers, dealers and consumers to manage the transition in an economically viable way,” says Thomas Peckruhn, President of ZDK.
At the heart of the joint proposal is a reduction of the target for CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars by 2035 to 90 per cent compared with 2021 levels. Under this proposal, manufacturers would not be required to offset the remaining ten percentage points. This goes beyond the European Commission’s previous proposal, which envisages compensating for the remaining emissions, among other measures, through sustainable fuels and low-carbon steel.
In view of both associations, European requirements must take account of technological capabilities and actual market developments. “The transformation of the automotive sector requires reliable and realistic framework conditions. We need to meet demand based on our customers' needs. Businesses must be able to invest in new technologies and climate-friendly mobility while maintaining their competitiveness, we must also take into account the effects of public policies on the service and after-sales sector” stresses Virginie de Pierrepont, President of MOBILIANS.
Germany and France are also proposing greater flexibility in meeting the CO₂ fleet targets for 2030 and 2031, as well as relief for light commercial vehicles. For plug-in hybrid vehicles, the current calculation method would be maintained until early 2030 and subsequently developed further based on real-world usage data. In addition, a new vehicle category is proposed for vehicles powered exclusively by eligible renewable and low-carbon fuels.
“It is right not to rule out different technological pathways from the outset. Alongside electric mobility, renewable fuels can also contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions. The key is to ensure that regulation remains workable and takes account of consumer needs as well as the economic realities of the market,” says Peckruhn.
Another key element of the agreement is strengthening Europe’s automotive industry. Public funding and procurement procedures are to be more closely linked to European value creation. The proposal also includes so-called super-credits for battery-electric vehicles produced in Europe. Greater flexibility is envisaged for the requirements applying to corporate fleets as well.
“Strengthening European production and supply chains is crucial to safeguarding jobs, expertise and industrial value creation in Europe. The new rules must encourage investment while
remaining practical for businesses to implement,” says de Pierrepont.
ZDK and MOBILIANS see the joint Franco-German position as an important basis for further negotiations on the EU Automotive Package. The next step will be to pursue the proposed adjustments through the European legislative process and translate them into legally sound and workable rules. No final EU decision has yet been taken.
Zentralverband Deutsches Kraftfahrzeuggewerbe (ZDK)
Der ZDK in Bonn, Berlin und Brüssel vertritt die berufsständischen Interessen von 84.000 Unternehmen im Kraftfahrzeuggewerbe (Autohäuser, Karosserie- und Kfz-Meisterbetriebe etc.) mit 705.000 Beschäftigten. Im Jahr 2025 erzielte die gesamte Kfz-Branche einen Umsatz von ca. 243 Milliarden Euro. Bei der Ausbildung ist das Kraftfahrzeuggewerbe mit über 98.500 Auszubildenden eine bundesweit führende Branche.
Ansprechpartner: Andreas Cremer, Stv. Pressesprecher, Tel.: 0173/6400542, E-Mail: cremer@kfzgewerbe.de
About MOBILIANS
MOBILIANS is the leading organization for business owners in the automotive retail, repair, and mobility services sectors—including cars, motorcycles, bicycles, commercial vehicles, scooters, and more. Our professional organization represents in France nearly 145,000 local businesses and 560,000 jobs. MOBILIANS defends the individual and collective interests of professionals in road-based mobility and supports them as their industries evolve. It takes a forward-looking approach to sustainable development and the promotion of individual and shared mobility in collaboration with all stakeholders.
Press contact: Laure de Verdun, Media Relations Manager – + 33 (0)6.12.43.33.37 – ldeverdun@mobilians.fr