Europe Reconsiders Its 2035 Ban on Gasoline Cars
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The EU is considering revising its 2035 ban on new combustion engine cars due to pressure from automakers and key member states like Germany and Italy.
The European Union is potentially walking back its ambitious plan to effectively ban the sale of new gasoline and diesel-powered passenger vehicles after 2035. This possible reversal comes in response to significant pushback from major car manufacturers and influential automotive lobbies, particularly in Germany and Italy.
The European Commission, the EU's executive branch, is reportedly preparing to either delay or significantly weaken the 2023 decision that mandated an end to the sale of new cars and vans that emit carbon dioxide by 2035. Sources within the industry and EU official circles indicated to Reuters that the Commission might postpone the ban by five years or indefinitely relax the CO2 emission targets.
Manfred Weber, who heads the European People’s Party—the largest group in the European Parliament—announced late last week that the internal combustion engine debate was effectively over. He hailed this as a major win for millions of workers and the automotive sector. Weber stated on X that the EU is keeping its promise of technological neutrality, combining climate protection with economic prosperity.
Weber also stated, as reported by Reuters, that the European Commission will present a clear proposal to eliminate the ban on combustion engines, which he characterized as a serious error in industrial policy.
Germany and Italy, two of the EU's largest economies, have recently urged the EU to permit the sale of plug-in hybrid vehicles and highly efficient conventional cars within the bloc even after 2035. These governments are seeking to support their substantial, but currently struggling, auto manufacturing industries.
The EU's automotive industry has faced headwinds recently, including U.S. tariffs, Chinese restrictions on rare earth exports, declining demand within the EU, and increased competition from lower-priced vehicles manufactured in China.
BMW, the German car manufacturing giant, cautioned as early as last year that the EU's proposed ban on gasoline and diesel car sales from 2035 was "no longer realistic." They warned that the European auto industry would experience a "massive shrinking" if such a ban were implemented.
