Europe’s carmakers are facing their toughest battle in decades, squeezed by U.S. tariffs, weak European demand and a shift to EVs, in which Chinese competitors are the clear leaders

International News via Reuters:

The European Commission will bring forward a review of its 2035 zero CO2 emission target for cars and vans to the end of this year from 2026, in response to automakers’ appeals that a total shift to electric vehicles is no longer feasible.

The European Union has set a target of 100% reduction of CO2 emissions for new cars and vans by 2035, which has been taken to mean the end of the internal combustion engine for new vehicles.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hosted auto executives on Friday to discuss the industry’s future.

Europe’s carmakers are facing their toughest battle in decades, squeezed by U.S. tariffs, weak European demand and a shift to EVs, in which Chinese competitors are the clear leaders.

ELECTRIC VANS IN FOCUS

The EU review will take a specific look at vans, a member of Commission Executive Vice-President Stephane Sejourne’s team said. Electric vans have a market share of only 8.5% of all new vans sold in the EU, about half the share for electric cars.

The details of a new proposal on the 2035 target are yet not clear, but it could include CO2-neutral fuels, such as biofuels, that could continue to power internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids or range extenders.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told an audience this week at IAA Mobility in Munich, Europe’s top auto trade show, that the sector should not limit itself to a single solution.

Volkswagen, Europe’s largest carmaker, said it was committed to the zero emission target but needed more time and flexibility to achieve it and backed adjustments.

“Transitional arrangements, special solutions for small series production, and the role of CO2-free fuels are part of the upcoming EU review,” it said.

DECARBONISNG CORPORATE FLEETS

New proposals could come alongside planned legislation to decarbonise corporate fleets, which make up about 60% of new car registrations in the 27-nation bloc.

The Commission could at the same time present a proposal to establish a new regulatory category for small electric cars, which might benefit from lower tax treatment and earn extra credits towards meeting CO2 emission reduction targets.

The EU executive is also seeking to prioritise local content for batteries and vehicle components and to set conditions of investments by foreign manufacturers and equipment suppliers, particularly from China, the Sejourne team member said.

Chinese investments have increased since the EU imposed import duties on EVs from China, but the bloc does not want these simply to involve final assembly of multiple parts and batteries coming from China.

Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, Charlotte Van Campenhout and Christina Amann in Berlin, Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten, Joe Bavier and Emelia Sithole-Matarise

The mission, which begins Friday evening, will involve a range of assets integrating air and ground bases

International News via Reuters:

NATO launched on Friday a new mission to bolster the defence of Europe’s eastern flank in response to Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace earlier this week, Secretary-General Mark Rutte said.

“It’s reckless and unacceptable. We can’t have Russian drones entering allied airspace,” Rutte said, announcing operation “Eastern Sentry”.

The mission, which begins Friday evening, will involve a range of assets integrating air and ground bases.

Allies, including Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Germany have so far committed to the mission with others set to join, Rutte said.

NATO’s top commander Alexus Grynkewich said NATO would defend every inch of the alliance’s territory.

“Poland and citizens from across the Alliance should be assured by our rapid response earlier this week and our significant announcement here today,” he said.

Reporting by Andrew Gray; Bart Meijer, Writing by Charlotte Van Campenhout and John Irish; Editing by GV De Clercq, Alexandra Hudson

The will states heirs should sell an initial 15% stake in the Italian fashion house within 18 months of Armani’s death

International News via Reuters:

Late designer Giorgio Armani instructed heirs to gradually sell the fashion house he created 50 years ago or seek a market listing, his will said, setting off a race to control one of the world’s best-known brands and a major shift for a company highly protective of its independence and Italian roots.

The designer, known in the industry as “King Giorgio”, died on September 4, at 91 and with no children to inherit his fashion empire, which industry analysts value at between 5 billion and 12 billion euros ($5.9 billion-$14 billion). 

The will, comprising two documents filed with a notary in March and April this year respectively and reviewed by Reuters, states heirs should sell an initial 15% stake in the Italian fashion house within 18 months of Armani’s death. They should later transfer an additional 30% to 54.9% stake to the same buyer between three and five years after the designer’s death.

The will also says that priority should be given to luxury giant LVMH, beauty heavyweight L’Oreal, eyewear leader EssilorLuxottica or another group of “equal standing” identified by a foundation the designer set up to preserve his legacy with the agreement of Armani’s business and life partner Pantaleo Dell’Orco.

The explicit mention of stake sales and of France-listed players as potential buyers comes as a surprise, given Giorgio Armani’s persistent refusal to dilute his control or list his fashion group, which industry experts say retains appeal despite a global luxury slowdown.

As an alternative to the sale of the second tranche of shares, an initial public offering should be pursued, in Italy or in a market of equal standing, the will said.

These types of provisions are essentially binding and could be challenged in court if not fulfilled, according to the Italian notary association.

EssilorLuxottica, controlled by the heirs of Italian entrepreneur Leonardo Del Vecchio and with commercial ties to Armani, said in a statement it would consider a possible deal. 

French cosmetics group L’Oreal, which holds a licensing agreement with the Armani group until 2050, also said on Friday it will study the opportunity.

LVMH, controlled by French billionaire Bernard Arnault, declined to comment.

ARMANI ENTERS NEW ERA

Over the years, the brand that revolutionised modern fashion through its minimalist jackets and suits received several approaches, including one in 2021 from John Elkann, scion of Italy’s Agnelli family, and another from luxury brand Gucci, when Maurizio Gucci was still at the helm.

Armani was the sole major shareholder of the company he set up with his late partner Sergio Galeotti in the 1970s and over which he maintained a tight rein – both creative and managerial – until the very end.

He leaves behind a business which generated relatively stable revenue – 2.3 billion euros ($2.7 billion) in 2024 – but whose operating profits have shrunk to less than 3% of revenue, according to Berenberg’s calculations.

The will, which lists six different types of shares with different voting rights, gives the Fondazione Giorgio Armani and Dell’Orco 30% and 40% of the company voting rights, respectively, meaning they would together control the fashion group with 70% of total. 

The foundation will retain a 30.1% stake in a listing and in a sale.

“The Fondazione .. shall never hold less than 30% of the capital, thereby acting as a permanent guarantor of compliance with the founding principles,” Armani’s executive committee said in a statement, adding that the foundation will propose the name of Giorgio Armani’s successor as group CEO.

The foundation’s five-member board will be chaired by Dell’Orco, in accordance with bylaws. Other board members include Rothschild partner Irving Bellotti, Armani’s nephew Andrea Camerana and two family outsiders, a person close to the matter told Reuters.

Heirs should consider other fashion and luxury companies with which the Armani group has commercial ties for a future sale, the will also said.

The Armani group has commercial partnerships with both L’Oreal and EssilorLuxottica.

Yet, with a market value of 240 billion euros and a reputation for being a patient and supporting minority investor, LVMH may ultimately prevail.

“We think that LVMH would likely be the most interested, of the three, in a stake, were it to become available, given the strategic fit,” analysts at Berenberg said in a note. They said the group could easily afford to buy Armani, which they valued at between 5 and 7 billion euros.

($1 = 0.8530 euros)

Writing by Lisa Jucca, editing by Giulia Segreti, Tomasz Janowski and Susan Fenton

Countries are discussing a legally-binding target to cut net EU greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, from 1990 levels

International News via Reuters:

European Union countries have shelved plans to approve a new climate change target next week, after pushback from governments including France and Germany over plans to quickly land a deal, three EU diplomats told Reuters on Friday.

Countries are discussing a legally-binding target to cut net EU greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, from 1990 levels – with a share of this covered by buying foreign carbon credits.

The European Commission has said this would offer investors certainty and keep Europe on track for net zero emissions by 2050. Climate change has made Europe the world’s fastest-warming continent, unleashing deadly heatwaves and record-breaking wildfires.

But EU governments are divided over how ambitious to be in tackling global warming, as governments also try to increase defence spending and support struggling industries.

EU ministers had planned to approve the 2040 climate change target on September 18. However, EU countries’ ambassadors cancelled that plan in a meeting on Friday, three EU diplomats said.

Ministers will discuss the 2040 goal next week, but the talks will then be escalated to EU government leaders, before any deal is agreed, they said.

The diplomats requested anonymity to discuss the closed-door meeting.

Failure to strike a deal next week could mean the EU misses a mid-September deadline for all countries to submit new climate plans to the U.N., to prepare for the COP30 climate summit in November.

Denmark, Spain and the Netherlands are among the countries backing the 90% emissions-cutting target, diplomats said.

Countries including France, Poland and Italy have pushed back on the proposed goal, and demanded it be escalated to heads of government – who next meet in October.

That could make it harder to clinch a deal. Unlike ministers, EU leaders take decisions unanimously.

To attempt to win over sceptical countries, diplomats are discussing options including covering a bigger share of the target with carbon credits, or linking a deal on the climate target to changes in other EU laws – such as the bloc’s carbon border levy, or its 2035 combustion engine car phase-out.

Germany backs the 90% emissions-cutting target, but supports having talks among government leaders before a deal is done, a spokesperson for the environment ministry said.

Reporting by Kate Abnett; additional reporting by Holger Hansen in Berlin