Alfa Romeo boss lashes out at European politics: ‘Euro 7 is bullshit’

Le Mans Classic – taking place this weekend – is a wonderful home from home for Alfa Romeo. The brand has won the 24-hour race several times in the past and the event sees both the factory and many Alfa clubs find their way to the famous French car pilgrimage site. Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato is comfortable there, walking around in a polo instead of a suit, and very willing to talk to us about the future of his brand. There are quite a few models in the planning in the coming years, in which Alfa will quickly go zero emissions promises to go. But there are also other demands from Europe and the Frenchman is not exactly happy about that. This becomes clear when we ask him about Euro 7 and the problems involved. The longer he talks, the angrier he gets.

“They were legitimately elected,” he says of European politicians. “But voting on Sunday is paying the bill on Monday. There is now a movement in European governance that is bureaucratic, excessive and not in the interest of the people. That’s my personal opinion. Because otherwise you wouldn’t allow a car to become twice as expensive. And believe me, it will. This throws the door wide open to competition from other parts of the world that can make it 25 percent cheaper. It’s going to be a drama. And no one seems to be aware of that. Whoever speaks, they don’t have their feet in the mud like we do in the factories. They don’t see that we have to make up for that 25 percent, otherwise we’re dead.”

Insecurity

The uncertainty is especially frustrating, he says. “Note: once the rules for Euro 7 are finally in place, we will get to work, and I guarantee you that we will meet all the standards they set for us. We will abide by the rules. Regardless of the consequences. But there will be We are investing billions in electrification, because we are implementing at a speed that is unprecedented for this sector. While unfair competition is coming. And people say: the customer will always choose. But that is not right, because everyone has to comply with Euro 7 .”

And Euro 7 is complete bullshit. “Two years before it is introduced and we still have no information. And then you hear things in the corridors or that it might be postponed. It is still being analyzed by people who have never been in a fucking factory to see how cars are actually built. They have no idea. And we have to homologate 85 cars in 2027… Easy… And in the meantime the requirements are increasing. Also for safety. How safe do you want a car to be, as a government? Say it. But consider what it does for prices.”

“Take a B-segment hatchback. One that cost 15,000 euros in 2018 must be electrified: 8k to 10k more. It may soon have level 3 autonomous driving, or it must score 5 EuroNCAP stars. Then you are already on 32,000 euros. With the margins for all parties, you are at 40,000 euros for “the same” car. In five years. What does that do to people’s mobility needs? One of the first necessities of life. Do politicians realize that? We will meet all legal rules. But the prices of cars will explode. You can already see it happening.”