Volkswagen chief disappointed after G-7 leaders shy away from EV sales targets

Volkswagen Group's chief executive officer Herbert Diess has expressed his disappointment after Group of Seven (G-7) leaders failed to set a specific date to phase out coal power. Volkswagen CEO Diess said the indecision on the part of global leaders would mean that carmakers will not be able to achieve carbon neutrality as they aim to fully shift to electric vehicles in a decade or two.

Diess took to social media platform Twitter, saying it’s senseless to let electric vehicles run on dirty energy. He wrote, "That’s not enough, G7. Disappointing outcome. We need to exit coal much earlier! EVs are key to reach the climate goals 2030. But EVs only make sense with green energy, letting EVs run on coal is regulatory nonsense."

The G-7 is committed to end international funding for carbon-intensive fossil fuel energy soon as well as speeding up their exit from coal to decarbonise electricity sectors in the next few years. But they were not able to agree on a firmer date due to resistance from one group member.

Currently, most of the carmakers around the world are leaning heavily towards manufacturing of electric vehicles as stricter emission rules have begun to kick in in many countries, including some of the G-7 nations like United Kingdom. UK had already proposed an out date for vehicles running on fossil fuel. France is also aiming to ban cars running on fossil fuels by 2040. Germany too is looking to do the same by 2030.

That’s not enough, @G7. Disappointing outcome. We need to exit coal much earlier! EVs are key to reach the climate goals 2030. But EVs only make sense with green energy, letting EVs run on coal is regulatory nonsense. @COP26 @BorisJohnson @EU_Commission https://t.co/mOpqn2pJTW

— Herbert Diess (@Herbert_Diess) June 15, 2021

Besides Tesla, Volkswagen is one of the major carmakers around the world leading the most aggressive push into electric vehicles. It has already revealed plans to launch around 70 battery-powered models by the end of this decade. Volkswagen chief criticised Germany last year for being too slow and timid in its retreat from coal-fired power plants.

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