Decarbonising road transport is not optional; it is a necessity — for our climate, for public health, and for Europe’s long-term economic resilience. At FIA Region I, representing automobile and mobility clubs across Europe, we are fully committed to this objective. The question is not whether we should move forward, but how to ensure that the transition is both effective and fair.
Because a transition that does not work for consumers will simply not work at all.
Today, there is a growing disconnect between policy ambition and everyday reality. While the regulatory framework is becoming increasingly stringent, many consumers are struggling with the practical implications: high upfront costs of vehicles, uncertainty about resale value, insufficient charging infrastructure in some regions, and a lack of clear, comparable information to guide their choices.
Affordability is not a secondary concern — it is a central condition for success. If clean mobility remains financially out of reach for a large share of European households, we risk slowing down the very transition we seek to accelerate. Worse, we risk creating a two-speed mobility system, where sustainable options are available only to those who can afford them.
This is why the revision of CO₂ standards must go beyond targets and consider the broader ecosystem in which consumers operate.
First, we need a genuinely consumer-centred approach to regulation. This means focusing not only on what is technologically possible, but on what is accessible and usable in real life. It also means providing consumers with clear, reliable information — on vehicle performance, environmental impact, and total cost of ownership — so they can make informed decisions. Independent programmes such as Green NCAP have shown how transparency can empower consumers while driving industry innovation.
Second, Europe must ensure that the transition remains technologically open. The objective should be clear — reducing emissions — but the pathway should allow for different solutions to emerge and compete. Innovation thrives in an environment where outcomes are defined, but technologies are not prematurely locked in. While electrification is rightly set to play a central role, preserving technological openness remains critical to deliver a transition that is both resilient and affordable for consumers.
Third, stronger attention must be given to the enabling conditions of the transition. Charging infrastructure, energy prices, grid capacity, and supply chains are not peripheral issues — they are fundamental. Without a coherent and well-coordinated framework, even the most ambitious standards risk underdelivering in practice.
Finally, affordability must be addressed directly. Public support mechanisms, fiscal incentives, and market design all have a role to play in ensuring that sustainable mobility options are within reach for all. At the same time, regulatory choices themselves must be assessed against their impact on costs for consumers.
The European Union has demonstrated global leadership in setting ambitious climate targets. It now has an opportunity to demonstrate equal leadership in ensuring that these targets translate into a transition that is inclusive, realistic, and broadly supported.
At FIA Region I, we see our role as bringing the voice of mobility users into this debate — a voice that is too often missing, yet essential. Consumers are not passive recipients of policy; they are active participants in the transition. Their choices, constraints, and expectations must be at the centre of the discussion.
If we get this right, Europe can lead not only in ambition, but in delivery — building a mobility system that is cleaner, safer, and accessible to all.
If we get it wrong, we risk undermining both public trust and the pace of change.
The choice should be clear.
Diogo Pinto is Director General at FIA Region I
