Home › Archive › In the Media › Hospodářské noviny | You can't go in all directions and still move forwardHospodářské noviny | You can't go in all directions and still move forward
The debate about the future of the European automotive industry has intensified in recent weeks. The key question is: will the goal to end the sale of new combustion engine cars by 2035 remain in force? Or will the European Commission yield to pressure, as it did earlier this year when it eased the 2025 emission targets for car manufacturers? The European automotive industry faces a fundamental choice. While the world is betting on electromobility, Europe is seeking compromises. Commentary by Filip Křenek, analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute.
15. September 2025
Industrial policy is back in full force – but in a new form. It does not mean a return to central planning, but rather the intelligent use of data. Forget the communist politburo. Thanks to artificial intelligence, we now have much better capabilities to understand complex supply chains, identify their weak points, and strengthen them selectively. This can be used to build a technological lead or exploited for economic pressure.
Von der Leyen also added a promise of 1.8 billion euros in capital support for European battery manufacturers. However, in terms of what is needed, this is more of a symbolic amount rather than a systemic response.
The key question of whether the goal will remain firm or become relativized will be on the table today during the next strategic dialogue about the future of the automotive industry. One thing is certain: industrial policy is never technologically neutral. But that does not necessarily mean it must stifle innovation.
You can read the full commentary by Filip Křenek here.
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