Elkann: “Trump knows what he wants to achieve, Europe must decide if the car is still relevant”

ROME – Trump? “ He is very clear about what he wants to achieve for the automotive industry ... the actions that are being implemented will make it possible”. The EU? “It must review the regulations to build less expensive and more accessible cars ”. De Meo? “ We are not discussing any merger (with Renault, ed. ). We have been working with Luca for a long time and we have very, very common experiences. Our roots are in small cars that have really been the driving force of prosperity ”. Pills of what the president of Stellantis, John Elkann , who also controls Repubblica, said at the “Future of the car summit” organized in London by the Financial Times . Also at the event was the CEO of Renault, Luca de Meo , with whom Elkann is carrying out a common battle at European level to change the transition towards electric. “With Luca we believe that this year, '25, is a year in which European countries and the European Union must decide whether the car is still relevant in the 21st century ,” says Elkann.

The president of Stellantis is convinced that the paths must be reviewed: “We believe that the incredible opportunity for European countries and for the European Union is to address the issue of emissions, not by focusing on zero emissions for new cars, but on how to reduce the emissions of the 250 million cars that currently circulate in the European Union .” The reference is to the increasingly older fleet of cars, which could be replaced by hybrid vehicles. We cannot focus only on the slice of new cars that are sold, around 15 million, but on the older ones, older than 10 years. In addition to the issue of emissions, there is the issue of approval regulations, which are increasingly complex and expensive. “ People want to buy cars, but these cars are too expensive, basically driven by regulations that have made them expensive .” An example? Elkann cites the 500 and the Renault 5: “They have been reinterpreted in many ways, they were very different cars. You can see it from the size. Today, they are overloaded as if they had been to the gym for weeks or years”.

For the president of Stellantis, “we need to be sure that we can provide cars that people want to buy, but that they can buy . And this equation, as Luca said, is possible.” And then he adds: ““What we want is very simple, exactly what the European Union has said it wants to achieve. So, with the omnibus, the simplification of regulations. If we have fewer regulations, we can make sure we build less expensive and therefore more accessible cars. We want certainties.” The goal? “To do what we love, that is, to build great cars for people who love the cars we make.” China? “What is happening in China must be a source of inspiration, not fear.” For Elkann, Europe “ must decide what it wants to do... Does it want to be a nation that builds cars or... that buys cars? ”