The EU’s planned ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035 is set to be softened, according to a senior European parliamentarian, in a move likely to spark backlash from environmental campaigners.
Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s party in the European parliament, said the European Commission is preparing to drop what he described as a “technology ban” on combustion engines. Instead of requiring all new cars sold from 2035 to have zero CO₂ emissions, manufacturers would be required to cut fleet-wide emissions by 90%, allowing some hybrid vehicles to remain on the market.
The shift follows lobbying from Germany, Italy and major carmakers, who argue that electric vehicle adoption has been slower than anticipated and that more time is needed to protect jobs in Europe’s automotive industry. Weber said the change would secure tens of thousands of industrial roles.
Environmental groups and some manufacturers, including Volvo and Polestar, oppose the move, warning it would weaken the EU’s green deal and hand an advantage to Chinese rivals. The European Commission said the 2035 deadline is still under discussion, noting increasing demand for greater flexibility on CO₂ targets.
