A formal letter has been sent to the European Commission outlining the harshness of the new proposal, calling it a ‘massive industrial policy intervention that will burden the entire European automobile industry’. European bosses of General Motors and Ford have also signed the letter in support.
The carmakers have an unlikely ally in the form of German Chancellor Angela Merkel who stated ‘I think I can go as far as to say that we will prevent a general reduction in emissions.’ The German government has reason for concern because of the potential cost to jobs in the industry.