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VW Back Labor’s New Vehicle Emissions Proposals

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Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) moved quickly to back the federal Climate carbon emission rules on new car sales. Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen proposed the changes in order to prevent Australia from becoming a backwater.

VGA Managing Director Paul Sansom said: “Our company was first to warn that this country would become a ‘third world dumping ground’ for obsolete auto technology. This has become a rallying cry.”

VGA imports Volkswagen, Audi, SKODA and CUPRA, and is Australia’s biggest European automotive importer. The company claims a leadership position in the National discussion on EVs and emissions, and has been a major driver in its decisions on which particular models to bring into the country.

Mr Bowen spoke at Friday’s National Electric Vehicle Summit in Canberra, the first of its kind. Previous federal governments actively worked against any climate-related changes, especially those surrounding the subjects of energy including fossil fuels.

The Labor government will release a discussion paper to develop a National Electric Vehicle Strategy. As part of that strategy, the paper will include fuel efficiency standards, something that until now, was intentionally avoided.

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ABOVE: VW Group Backs Australian Emissions Proposals

“If Australia had acted in 2020, emissions could have been reduced by 5.1 millions tonnes by now,” Mr Bowen said.

“Standards that lack ambition will leave us at the back of the queue for longer and … leave Australia in danger of being even more of third world dumping ground.”

Mr Sansom was among the select invitees who spoke at the summit convened by the Electric Vehicle Council of Australia. The summit was addressed by  Mr Bowen, Atlassian CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes; and Tesla CEO Robyn Denholm. Attendees included US ambassador Caroline Kennedy and EU ambassador Michael Pulch.

Mr Sansom took part in a forum on fuel standards with Zoe Daniel MP, NRMA’s Emma Harrington and Sam Johnson of Polestar.

Mr Sansom reiterated that a “federally mandated emissions target for our industry is non-negotiable if Australia’s supply of electric vehicles is to grow from a trickle to a flow and thereby start to meet ever growing demand.

“Markets where auto makers face financial consequences for failing to meet targets are prioritised for zero emission vehicles. Volkswagen Group Australia wants binding regulations that compel our factories to consider us. Greater supply inevitable leads to greater affordability.”

Audi currently imports the e-tron EV range. This year Volkswagen, SKODA and CUPRA intend to introduce affordable EVs.

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