Donkervoort Backs EU Low-Volume CO2 Exemption for Boutique Car Makers
Dutch sports car maker Donkervoort supports an indefinite exemption for boutique manufacturers selling fewer than 1,000 vehicles per year from EU's 2035 zero-emission mandate.
fewer than 1,000 vehicles per year
750 kg
over 99%
What Happened
Donkervoort Automobielen has voiced strong support for the EU's indefinite CO2 exemption for boutique car makers — those selling fewer than 1,000 vehicles annually. The company argues that its lightweight, long-lasting sports cars can achieve lower whole-of-life emissions than an electric equivalent. Managing Director Denis Donkervoort stated that over 99% of all Donkervoorts ever built are still drivable and regularly serviced, emphasizing the sustainability of low-volume, durable vehicles.
“We create art pieces that exist for 100 years or more, so they're not mass-production cars you throw away after 15 years. On the mileages our cars do, a Donkervoort EV could never recover the extra sunk carbon emissions from the production of the battery alone.”
750 kg
Donkervoort claims an EV variant would be far more polluting over its lifecycle due to battery production emissions.
Why this matters
The exemption recognizes that ultra-low-volume, lightweight sports cars may have a lower lifetime carbon footprint than a hypothetical EV version, challenging a one-size-fits-all emissions policy.
Terms in This Story
- boutique car maker
- A small-volume automaker producing fewer than 1,000 vehicles per year.
- low-volume CO2 exemption
- EU regulation allowing small manufacturers to be exempt from carbon emissions targets and the 2035 ban on new ICE vehicles.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.