"We need to move toward a small vehicle so that it's accessible and efficient."

Hybrids are now the top choice, followed by plug-ins, leaving diesel and gasoline behind. Emissions regulations have changed the trend, but there are still challenges and "missing" goals. May López , Director of Business Development for Sustainable Mobility, gives the answers.

What will sell more in the near future? What will ultimately happen to combustion?

Indeed. Although for the first time, more plug-in vehicles—electric and plug-in hybrids—are being sold than diesel, the reality is that non-plug-in hybrids remain the priority choice, both in terms of registrations and manufacturing nationwide. Considering that this technology is currently excluded from the Fit For 55 program, which establishes that by 2035, these types of vehicles will no longer be registered in Europe, and considering that 90% of the vehicles we manufacture in Spain are destined for the European market, it is urgent to rethink the strategy and send a clear message, both to manufacturers and consumers, that electric vehicles represent the path to sustainable mobility and the alternative compatible with European requirements.

Furthermore, in Europe we need not only to reduce CO2 emissions, but also nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions, which are responsible for poor air quality, a problem that causes more than 400,000 premature deaths in Europe each year. Hence, we need to move towards zero-emission mobility. If we add to this the fact that we are not a country or continent that produces oil and, therefore, depend on third parties to obtain this product and its derivatives, the need to guarantee energy independence becomes clear. This is where the electric vehicle will increasingly play a role.

All of this, coupled with the fact that it is increasingly more profitable and that the TCO (the cost of operation) is already better than that of a combustion engine, and that word of mouth among users is leading to an increasing number of users opting for this technology, makes this technology the predominant one, not only in the near future, but in the present.

Electric cars are also taking off, and charging infrastructure no longer seems to be a problem. However, many shortcomings remain (number of chargers, distance, inoperability, etc.); what is needed to eliminate the "anxiety" of not being able to reach them? And what about city centers or areas where almost no one has a garage, or where the infrastructure wouldn't support 20 chargers "at once" where none existed before?

Indeed, there is already sufficient charging infrastructure. In fact, we are the country with the highest proportion of electric vehicle charging and also with a usage rate below 10%, which means there is sufficient charging infrastructure. However, it is true that we still need to improve transparency to facilitate the deployment of this charging infrastructure, as there are more than 10,000 charging points still awaiting grid connection, resulting in losses of more than €114 million for charging operators.

Furthermore, there is excessive bureaucracy to implement these points. In fact, the timeframes are three times longer than in other countries, reaching up to three years. But, indeed, for those areas where there is still no charging infrastructure, or those where users cannot have linked charging, it is urgent to integrate the management of the charging infrastructure into urban management, just as lighting or waste management is. This way, we can guarantee the democratization of electric mobility for all types of users, regardless of whether or not they have the option of a linked garage.

It is argued that even the most ambitious scenarios will not achieve the 2030 Goal. What will this mean? What should be done (and what would be feasible)?

The PNIEC establishes that by 2030, there must be 5.5 million electric vehicles on Spanish roads. The reality is that this would mean selling more than 1 million electric vehicles currently. That is, all new registrations would be 100% electric. This is difficult to achieve, even more so considering all the misinformation surrounding electric vehicles, which means that users, when making their purchasing decisions, are not always choosing the most economical or viable alternative for them in the future, or even in the present.

Therefore, to achieve or at least get as close as possible to this goal, it is urgent to inform customers about the advantages of electric vehicles, eliminate misinformation surrounding them, and make these vehicles more affordable in terms of price and number of models. Currently, 70% of vehicles are premium and SUVs, and only 5% are priced below €30,000. In fact, of the models expected to be manufactured between now and 2028, only 15% will be priced below €30,000. Therefore, it is necessary to invest in more affordable vehicles that democratize electric mobility and facilitate its access to all citizens.

What challenges and objectives does motorsports face in Europe, but especially in Spain?

The two European countries in the top 10 global manufacturers are Germany and Spain, and both have lost market share in the last year. In fact, Spain lost its eighth position as a global vehicle producer in 2024 to Brazil, which was boosted by strong growth in EV production and the positioning of Chinese manufacturers. Furthermore, Spain continues to decline in the production of pure electric vehicles (BEVs) in the first half of 2025 (-20.6%), a decline that accumulates to -27.1% in 2024. We are shifting production toward HEVs (non-plug-in hybrids), which, according to the Fit For 55, will cease to be registered in the EU in 2035.

Therefore, considering that 90% of Spanish production is sold in Europe, we must urgently prioritize electric vehicles over combustion engines. But that's not all: we also need to move toward small vehicles, not only because we lack raw materials, but because it's essential that they be accessible to the maximum number of people and energy-efficient.