New European Union petrol and diesel rules could kill off popular car models in the UK
The boss of Skoda said production would not begin until Euro 7 rules are clear
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New petrol and diesel regulations laid out by the European Union could affect a number of popular vehicles if they are to be introduced.
The Euro 7 emissions standards have been proposed to reduce pollutant emissions from vehicles and improve air quality.
Eight key nations in the EU, including France and Italy, have called on the bloc to “dilute” the plans over fears it would hamper investment in the electric car industry.
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One major car brand has now warned that the new emissions regulations could kill off the development of some of the most popular cars on the market.
Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Skoda, said the brand would refrain from committing to a new generation of the popular Fabia model until the Euro 7 standards were fully fleshed out.
The Czech company warned that the popular supermini might be too expensive to produce in its current form.
He added that the less stringent proposals for the new standards could extend the potential lifecycle of the Fabia, although stated that it still needs to be ratified.
Some have predicted that the new regulations could be rolled out in July 2025, although the European Union still needs to clarify the measures.
Klaus Zellmer continued, saying: “We have seen recently some good direction within the European Union, from certain countries.
“We’ve always said that adding up to €5,000 (£4,317) per car for technology that doesn’t fully benefit the climate is probably not the most intelligent solution.
“And I think we’re heading in the right direction, so personally I’m more optimistic now that we’ll be able to extend the current Fabia’s life cycle,” he told Auto Express.
Although the UK has left the EU following the Brexit referendum, the UK Government has continued to use the Euro emissions standards.
With the rise of new clean air zones and the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone in London, Euro standards are potentially more important than ever.
To avoid the majority of charges in clean air zones and the Ulez, petrol vehicles must adhere to Euro 4 standards, while diesel cars should be Euro 6.
These standards also apply to any vehicles manufactured in the UK, as well as the rest of Europe.
Skoda plans to release six new electric vehicles by 2026, with initial sales set to begin next year.
One of its vehicles is believed to start with a €25,000 (£21,589) price point in a bid to compete with smaller cars for a large slice of the electric vehicle market.
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The popular Skoda Fabia
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Despite the electric dreams for Skoda, the Czech brand has not yet set a deadline for when it will phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles.