Combustion Engine Ban: Audi CEO Duesmann Warns of Delays and Bets on E-Drive

The Chairman of the Board of Audi, Markus Duesmann, has warned of a stalemate in the context of ongoing debates about e-fuels and the EU's combustion engine phase-out. This threatens and would be "fatal for the automotive industry," Duesmann cautioned. He sees the risk in the political discussion that the clear decision by the EU could be questioned again, the automotive executive explained to the Spiegel. The industry needs planning security. In this context, Duesmann also opposes the renewed blockade by Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing, who surprisingly withdrew his initial approval at the beginning of the week and is now pushing for a proposal from Brussels on how e-fuels could keep new passenger cars operating after 2035. However, Audi has made a clear decision, said Duesmann.

"We are phasing out combustion engines in 2033 because battery-electric vehicles are the most efficient method for individual mobility," Duesmann clarified.

E-fuels will not play a significant role in the medium term. They are significantly less efficient to produce, thereby much more expensive, and only relevant in the long term for forms of mobility where energy cannot be stored otherwise. "Planes will rely on e-fuels or the vehicle fleet that is already on the road," Duesmann continued. He further advocated for a technology that "takes us away from fossil resources." The war in Ukraine is not a reason to slow down the transformation, on the contrary. The transformation to e-mobility contributes to greater independence from oil, gas, and coal in Europe. "Now it is not just about climate protection, but also about stability and peacekeeping," Duesmann had already stated at the beginning of the war.