Overview

• Abgeordnetenwatch secured a court ruling that published the full SMS exchange between former Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Porsche’s Oliver Blume from June 2022 over E-Fuels lobbying.
• Text messages show Lindner soliciting Porsche’s support to challenge the planned ban on combustion engines by emphasizing synthetic fuel potential and Blume pledging full corporate backing.
• An internal Porsche meeting exposé by ZDF revealed Blume boasting about the company’s pivotal role in securing E-Fuel concessions in the governing coalition agreement.
• The EU’s 2035 emissions regulation now includes explicit references to E-Fuels and a commitment to propose CO2-neutral fuel vehicles, reflecting the FDP’s last-minute intervention.
• Lindner has threatened legal action over media reports and Blume’s recent promotion to Volkswagen CEO has intensified scrutiny of industry influence as the EU readies a 2026 policy review.