European “Green” Cars Driving to the Lead

Electric vehicles are front and center at the Paris Motor Show with European carmakers showing leadership in technology and their ability to compete with Tesla in the space.  New emission standards in Europe mean there will soon more electric vehicles offered.

At the Paris show, Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz is showing off the EQC, while Volkswagen’s Audi has the e-tron, both battery-powered.

They should be on the streets in the next few months, the e-tron this year and the EQC in 2019. PSA Group’s luxury brand, DS, is showing off the DS 3 Crossback, a compact SUV that will offer an all-electric version from the second half of 2019.

Volkswagen will follow in 2020 with its ID electric four-door compact. BMW already makes the i3 compact and plans an electric version of its X3 SUV in 2020.

The European Union’s collective effort to cut the output of greenhouse gases  sways the automakers’ plans.