Four Slovak car plants want plug-in hybrids allowed beyond 2035

Four Slovak car plants—VW, Kia, Stellantis, and JLR—are protesting the EU’s planned ban on combustion engines after 2035, proposing that plug-in hybrids be allowed beyond that date. They are also calling for combustion engines to be permitted to use synthetic fuels that are emission-neutral. Sales of EVs continue to lag behind expectations. Germany, Slovakia, and Czechia are pushing for a review of the ban, but the EU has not yet published its position.

Volvo will produce only EVs in Košice. These will account for 30% of output at the Stellantis plant in Trnava this year, with another 30% being hybrids. Kia recently launched production of the EV4 model in Žilina. VW has not produced EVs in Bratislava in recent years, focusing instead on hybrids. However, next year it will begin production of the electric Porsche Cayenne. JLR also produces hybrid models in Nitra.

(dennikN.sk)