08 May No additional money to Tesla and Elon Musk

ÖDP MEP Manuela Ripa does not want emission limits to be offset against purchased e-car certificates.

Manuela Ripa, MEP for the Ecological Democratic Party (ÖDP - Die Naturschutzpartei), abstained from the vote in the European Parliament on compliance with CO2 limits for motor vehicles. She made it clear: "The climate obligations must be met."

Even if the current decision gives Europe's car manufacturers more time to build their engines in a more environmentally and climate-friendly way, the delay must not mean "that Tesla earns more money without doing anything just because the car companies buy their way out of their obligation with exhaust emission certificates from lower-emission electric car companies". Ripa: "It doesn't add up!"

Europe's car manufacturers, including Germany, will have to expect fines from 2025 if they fail to comply with EU emissions standards. The new decision by the Parliament in Strasbourg now gives them more time to do their homework. "If the postponement had not taken place, car manufacturers could have paid money to e-car manufacturers to reduce their own emissions, as they did in the past. This so-called CO2 pooling must not happen. After all, it would primarily be a way for Tesla owner Elon Musk or the Chinese competition from domestic manufacturers to pocket money - without them providing any service of their own."

According to industry media, Tesla is currently developing into a kind of "eco-bank of the car industry" thanks to these deals. Musk earns billions of euros with certificates, which he sells to the competition so that they fulfill their obligations on paper. Ripa's comment on this practice: "Pooling is unacceptable." However, it is also clear to the ÖDP MEP: "CO2 emissions must be reduced."