A European crackdown on petrol cars will trigger a “massive shrinking” of the Continent’s vast automotive industry, the boss of BMW has claimed. Speaking at the Paris Automotive Show, Oliver Zipse warned that new rules leading to a ban on combustion engine vehicles by 2035 would put Europe’s carmakers at a disadvantage compared to their Chinese rivals. His warning came as France revealed it was pushing for “flexibility” on European Union regulations ahead of their introduction next year. In 2023, EU leaders approved laws that effectively banned the sale of petrol and diesel cars by the end of 2035. It means the average amount of carbon dioxide emitted by new cars must fall by 15pc in 2025, 55pc in 2030, and 100pc in 2035. But on Tuesday, Mr Zipse claimed the regulations were “no longer realistic” as demand for electric vehicles (EV) in Europe stalls and domestic carmakers lag behind their Chinese peers on cost and battery technology. He warned the rules “could threaten the European automotive industry in its heart”, adding that “with today’s assumptions, [it will] lead to a massive shrinking of the industry as a whole”. Mr Zipse also claimed that the rules – which he said...