Testing, testing — Is this thing on...? After months of radio silence (we may or may not have forgotten the password), The Strawman is back and ready to bring you the hottest climate stories with a side of snark.

Today, we’re jumping straight into Europe’s carmakers, their carbon credit drama, and why Brussels might have accidentally handed China the keys to the EV kingdom. Let’s roll:

Carbon Credits: The New European Export... to China?

European carmakers are in a bind. To meet the EU’s strict emissions targets, they can either:

1. Slash EV prices to boost sales,

2. Face billions in fines, or

3. Buy carbon credits from cleaner competitors.

Guess which option they’re eyeing? That’s right—carbon credits. And with Tesla already making billions selling theirs, Chinese EV makers like BYD are next in line to profit. It’s ironic: Europe is trying to protect its car industry from Chinese imports, but emissions rules might just force VW and Renault to write China a fat check.

Pooling emissions credits is like a group project in school: You find the overachiever (BYD), let them do all the hard work, and hope the teacher doesn’t notice your contribution was “moral support.”

EV Targets vs. Reality: Who’s Winning the Race?

To avoid hefty fines, VW and Renault need to supercharge their EV sales. But with government subsidies for EVs pulled back in France and Germany, sales have slowed. VW doesn’t even have a new mass-market EV planned for 2025, making it unlikely to hit emissions targets on its own.

Meanwhile, Tesla and Chinese rivals like BYD are speeding ahead, selling EVs at scale and racking up credits like frequent flyer miles. For European carmakers, it’s starting to look like a footrace where they showed up in flip-flops.

Brussels, caught between climate goals and industry pressures, is holding “strategic dialogues” with automakers. Translation: Everyone’s complaining, and no one’s happy.

The Strawman Takeaway

Europe’s carmakers are trying to navigate a perfect storm: ambitious emissions rules, declining EV sales, and fierce competition from Tesla and Chinese giants. Meanwhile, the controversial pooling system could be a double-edged sword, helping European brands stay afloat but strengthening their rivals in the process.

As for The Strawman? We’re just getting started. Welcome back, and buckle up—2025 is going to be a wild ride.

Catch you tomorrow, and hopefully the day after that, or until the password becomes forgotten again.

— The Strawman