Latest news with #BildZeitung
TimesLIVE
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Merz rejects reported EU plan to force rental firms to buy EVs from 2030
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday criticised a reported draft EU plan to oblige car rental firms and large companies to only buy electric vehicles from 2030, saying it could contribute to destroying the bloc's important automotive industry. German tabloid Bild Zeitung on Saturday reported the EU Commission was considering the move, citing anonymous EU sources. Such corporate fleets make up about 60% of new car sales, it said. Merz said the proposals "completely miss the point of the joint needs we have in Europe", noting the automotive industry was one of the region's core industries. "We must not allow it to be destroyed by focussing on technologies that might not be market-ready enough by a given date for one to rely exclusively on that single technology," he told reporters. "That's why we oppose such rigid specifications. "Europe is not open enough, not fast enough, not dynamic enough, and I want to help change that" he said. Germany has a right to help formulate the EU's strategic outlook given it finances a quarter of the bloc's budget, he said.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Merz rejects reported EU plan to force rental firms to buy EVs from 2030
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday criticised a reported draft EU plan to oblige car rental firms and large companies to buy only electric vehicles from 2030, saying it could contribute to destroying the bloc's important automotive industry. German tabloid Bild Zeitung had on Saturday reported that the EU Commission was considering the move, citing anonymous EU sources. Such corporate fleets make up about 60% of new car sales, it said. Merz said the proposals "completely miss the point of the current joint needs we have in Europe", noting the automotive industry was one of the region's core industries. "We must not allow it to be destroyed by focussing on technologies that might not be market-ready enough by a given date for one to rely exclusively on that single technology," he told reporters. "That's why we oppose such rigid specifications." "Europe is not open enough, not fast enough, not dynamic enough - and I want to help change that" he said. Germany has a right to help formulate the EU's strategic outlook given it finances a quarter of the bloc's budget, he said.
Reuters
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Merz rejects reported EU plan to force rental firms to buy EVs from 2030
BERLIN, July 21 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday criticised a reported draft EU plan to oblige car rental firms and large companies to buy only electric vehicles from 2030, saying it could contribute to destroying the bloc's important automotive industry. German tabloid Bild Zeitung had on Saturday reported that the EU Commission was considering the move, citing anonymous EU sources. Such corporate fleets make up about 60% of new car sales, it said. Merz said the proposals "completely miss the point of the current joint needs we have in Europe", noting the automotive industry was one of the region's core industries. "We must not allow it to be destroyed by focussing on technologies that might not be market-ready enough by a given date for one to rely exclusively on that single technology," he told reporters. "That's why we oppose such rigid specifications." "Europe is not open enough, not fast enough, not dynamic enough — and I want to help change that" he said. Germany has a right to help formulate the EU's strategic outlook given it finances a quarter of the bloc's budget, he said.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Germany's Klingbeil Rebuffs Calls to Restore Russian Gas Imports
(Bloomberg) -- The co-head of Germany's Social Democrats party and frontrunner to become the next finance minister Lars Klingbeil dismissed swirling speculation over reviving pipeline gas deliveries from Russia after a potential peace deal for Ukraine. Gold-Rush Fever Returns to Historic New Zealand Mining Town What Frank Lloyd Wright Learned From the Desert Bank Regulators Fight for Desks as OCC Returns to New York Tower These US Bridges Face High Risk of Catastrophic Ship Strikes Charter Schools, Colleges Push Muni Debt Distress Near Record Germany largely weaned itself off Russian energy supplies after the invasion of Ukraine three years ago and 'this path must be followed consistently,' Klingbeil told public broadcaster ARD in an interview. He sees no way back 'at all' and added that Germany is far from potentially normalizing relations with Russia due to the ongoing war against Ukraine. High energy costs have been a key concern across German industry as Europe's largest economy is trying to revive growth after two years of stagnation. Speculation over a return of Russian gas imports has been swirling ever since discussions over a potential ceasefire emerged, with some local industry representatives in the country's east saying the cheaper supplies could help reignite momentum. Klingbeil has played a key role in recent weeks — together with with chancellor-in-waiting and conservative leader Friedrich Merz — in pushing sweeping fiscal reforms through parliament to allow large-scale investments in infrastructure and defense. Adding to the recent speculation, the Financial Times reported on Mar. 1 that Matthias Warnig, a former spy and allegedly close friend of Vladimir Putin, was 'engineering a restart' of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The move showed the breadth of US President Donald Trump's rapprochement with Moscow, according to the FT report. 'I'm not involved in such plans, I'm a pensioner,' Warnig told Zeit Online in a response to the article. Warnig, who has been subject to US sanctions, worked for the secret service in Germany's formerly communist east. Putin awarded him a medal of honor in 2012 for his engagement to foster Russian-German ties. Separately, Bild Zeitung reported in early March that Richard Grenell, Trump's envoy for special missions and a former US ambassador to Germany, had traveled to Switzerland several times in an unofficial capacity to participate in talks about Nord Stream 2. Grenell denied toward Bild Zeitung that he was involved. After the FT and the Bild report, at least two German lawmakers voiced support for Germany to consider Russian energy imports once a peace deal has been reached for Ukraine. According to Klingbeil, Germany must avoid repeating past mistakes and becoming dependent on Russian energy imports even after the end of the war. 'We must not become naive again,' he said. Klingbeil, Merz and their main allies are currently in talks to form Germany's next government following the federal election just over a month ago. In the documents negotiators are preparing ahead of a possible coalition framework Russia is singled out as the biggest security threat for Germany. 'Our security is under greater threat today than at any time in decades,' according to a document seen by Bloomberg News. 'The greatest and most direct threat comes from Russia, which is waging a brutal and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine for the fourth year and is continuing to massively rearm.' Trump's IRS Cuts Are Tempting Taxpayers to Cheat Google Is Searching for an Answer to ChatGPT Israel Aims to Be the World's Arms Dealer Business Schools Are Back How a US Maker of Rat-Proof Trash Bins Got Boxed in by Trump's Tariffs ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Bloomberg
16-03-2025
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Porsche, Piech Clans Mull Partial Sale of VW Shares, Bild Says
The billionaire Porsche and Piech family is exploring options to potentially reduce its voting stake in Volkswagen AG, according to a report by German tabloid Bild Zeitung. The family's main investment vehicle Porsche Automobil Holding SE is discussing lowering its voting stake to 50% or 45%, from currently just over 53%, according to the report, which cites unidentified people familiar with the discussions. There's no agreement within the Porsche and Piech family on a share sale so far and the decision would need 'consensus' within the billionaire clan, the newspaper said.
