Report warns that the firm is only investing 6% of its R&D and capital budget in next-generation electric or hydrogen planes
Photo credits: AIRBUS
Airbus could become the next Volkswagen, a think tank has warned, by underinvesting in next-generation aviation and ceding the EU’s lead in the sector to China or the US, which are investing heavily in electric planes.
The company is one of the EU’s few industrial triumphs, arguably leading the world in aircraft manufacturing, especially following the safety woes experienced recently by US rival Boeing.
“Airbus does risk falling behind and losing that race to truly zero-emission aviation,” said Rich Collett-White, an analyst at Carbon Tracker, and co-author of a recent report warning that the aviation industry as a whole is failing to invest enough in new types of aircraft.
Airbus, however, argues that making existing aircraft more…
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