The minister-presidents of 11 German states have written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding the use of low-emission steel in automobile production.
At the instigation of Saarland and Lower Saxony, they are demanding that carbon-reduced steel production and automobile production be strengthened by means of a regulatory coupling between the two sectors.
The 11 premiers suggest that the use of “green” steel be counted towards the average emissions values of new vehicles, Kallanish understands. The self-declared goal of the initiative is to consider the CO2 emissions of the entire vehicle. The current limits refer exclusively to vehicle emissions, without considering the circumstances of manufacturing. This means that carmakers lack the incentive to produce climate-friendly cars, the premieres argue.
German steel association WVStahl has welcomed the move. “We need a regulatory environment that supports these investments and links the strategies of the domestic steel and automotive industries,” says managing director Kerstin Maria Rippel.
