J. Faryś: "There is no turning back from the new era of motoring"

During the Global E-Mobility Forum, electromobility was changed in all cases. Event participants agreed that the changes are groundbreaking. Jakub Faryś, one of the participants of the plenary meeting at GEF 2019 admits that the ongoing revolution has a very broad dimension: - There is certainly no turning back from the new era of motorization, which consists of several areas. The first is new drives, the second is a new way of using the car, i.e. sharing, the third in turn is the new car functions, i.e. the digitization of vehicles. It may turn out that in 10, 30 or 50 years, manufacturers will not only be a vehicle supplier, but also a mobility and mobility service.

Electromobility plays a significant role in the whole process, which, according to the president of the Polish Automotive Industry Association, will be key to meeting low emissions regulations. - Electromobility means that the automotive industry will be different, it will also meet very ambitious goals that have been set by the European Commission, the European Parliament or member states. Because if we are talking about a reduction of carbon dioxide at the level of 37.5% for passenger cars, 31% for vans and 30% for trucks in 2030, it is a very short time. To meet these standards and expectations we must have other vehicles - he said.

Manufacturers must, customers may have resistance

Everyone must adapt to the changes taking place - from producers to customers. - Manufacturers have no choice. If they want to be in the game, if they want to be on the market, they must propose such solutions. Similarly, in the case of manufacturers of parts and subassemblies who must be ready for new demand - believes J. Faryś, while observing: - Here is some risk for Poland, which is one of the most important countries producing components, but a large part of this production, about half, is dedicated to classic and combustion vehicles. If these companies do not change their approach, they will have a problem - he adds.

Consumers also have to face the new new reality in the automotive world. Many of them will have to change their habits and this is where our interlocutor sees the biggest difficulties: - In my opinion, the biggest problem is in the area of ​​the customer, because as consumers we are used to a certain range, we are used to "loading" our car in 15 minutes with VAT invoice and hot dog. If we have to change to cars that have smaller ranges, where "charging" them takes more time, customers may not be willing to do so.

- Customers are the last and the most important link. They decide what vehicles they will buy - adds J. Faryś. - It is important that we convince clients from the beginning that this is a good solution and that it is worth going into it. The worst thing is that if they colloquially burn themselves and buy this new mobility, it will prove unsatisfactory for them. It's a big job. It also convinces drivers in the name of certain social expectations. We want to have clean air, we don't want global warming. This is part of the solution so that we, our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren could live in a much better world - he emphasizes.

Punish or encourage? How to convince Poles to change vehicles to newer ones?

The President of PZPM also points out that he is a strong opponent of top-down prohibitions forcing the use of specific vehicles: - I do not want to talk about the situation in which the legislator prohibits something, because then the action gives rise to a reaction. Not the way. I am against opposition and prohibition. It's much better to convince someone to behave than to prohibit something.

It's no secret that there is no shortage of older vehicles in Poland, and cars fueled by alternative fuels still constitute a small part of the market. According to J. Farysia, there is no incentive that would mobilize drivers to reach for younger years. - In recent years, the Sejm has received a proposal to change the tax system four times more to promote more environmentally friendly vehicles, but it has practically always been lost during the third vote. This means that all political forces agree that this is bad, but no one has the courage to face it, "he said.

Often, the reason for the low popularity of non-combustion cars is the level of wealth of Poles in relation to the prices of such cars. However, as our interlocutor proves, this does not necessarily have to be the reason for this situation: - The park in Poland is old and unfortunately it has been aging in recent years. At least 1/3 of vehicles registered in Poland for the first time are cars older than 10 years. However, Poles may not necessarily afford to buy newer cars. I'm not talking about new ones, but about new ones. Let's look at the situation in the Czech Republic. We are a similar country, maybe the Czech Republic is a little wealthier. Czechs buy proportionally much less used cars. So the argument that a Pole cannot afford is not an argument - emphasizes J. Fatyś.

A way to change would be the tax system, which rewards buyers of newer cars. - I always say that buying an 18-year or 20-year vehicle with a six-liter engine is not a necessity to be mobile. It's just fun. Therefore, if someone wants to make such pleasure, let it be taxed heavily. In turn, if we have low-taxed cars of several years, 6 years, for example, with relatively small engines, this is the basis of mobility. And anyone who lives in a smaller urban center or in the countryside and must have a car can choose such a car. But if he wants to choose a 20-year-old car with a 6-liter engine, then there is no need for mobility. This is a kind of desire to please yourself, and pleasures, as we know, cost money - emphasizes the president of PZPM. - A wisely constructed tax system will therefore support this car exchange. The wealthiest, it is not excluded, and even very likely, they will choose a non-pure internal combustion engine. This is the way. We do not punish, do not discourage, do not repress, we only build a tax system that encourages customers to reach for a newer car - he adds at the end.