Leading automakers, as well as Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, are urging the European Union (EU) to reconsider its planned 2035 ban on new combustion engine vehicles, warning that a rushed transition could destabilise key parts of the country’s automotive supply chain, which includes leather interiors. By ILM.

Merz reportedly issued the appeal during the opening of the IAA motor show in Munich, as Europe’s struggling carmakers urged the bloc to rethink the climate-focused plan.

Executives from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen said the EU should allow more flexibility on the phase-out date, or at least introduce review clauses to assess progress on charging infrastructure, battery supply and market readiness.