A European crackdown on petrol cars will trigger a "massive shrinking" of the industry, the boss of BMW has claimed.
Speaking at the Paris Automotive Show, Oliver Zipse warned that new rules leading to a ban on combustion engine vehicles by 2035 would put European carmakers at a disadvantage compared to their Chinese rivals.
In 2023, European Union leaders approved laws that would ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by the end on 2035.
The warning comes after France was pushing for "flexibility" on EU regulations ahead of their introduction next year.
Mr Zipse claimed the regulations were "no longer realistic" as demand for electric vehicles (EV) in Europe lag behind Chinese manufacturers on cost and battery technology.
He warned the rules “could threaten the European automotive industry in its heart”, adding that “with today’s assumptions, [it will] lead to a massive shrinking of the industry as a whole”.
Mr Zipse also claimed that the rules could end up benefiting Chinese manufacturers.
“A correction of the 100pc EV target for 2035 … would also afford European [manufacturers] less reliance on China for batteries,” he said.