The EU’s planned ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035 is set to be watered down, according to a senior MEP, in a move likely to anger environmental campaigners.
Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s party in the European parliament, said the European Commission is expected to soften the rule so it no longer amounts to a total ban on combustion engines. Instead of requiring all new cars to have zero CO₂ emissions from 2035, manufacturers would be expected to meet a 90% fleet-wide emissions reduction target, allowing some hybrid vehicles to remain on sale.
The shift follows pressure from Germany, Italy and much of the European car industry, which argue that consumers are not adopting electric vehicles as quickly as anticipated and that flexibility is needed to protect jobs. Weber said the change would help secure tens of thousands of roles in Europe’s automotive sector.
Environmental groups and some manufacturers, including Volvo and Polestar, have criticised the move, warning it risks undermining the EU’s green deal and could give Chinese rivals a competitive edge. The European Commission said discussions on the 2035 deadline are ongoing, with increasing calls for greater flexibility on CO₂ targets.
