The EU’s complete ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035 is set to be weakened, according to a senior European Parliament politician.
The expected announcement by the European Commission on Tuesday in Strasbourg would be a controversial move, angering environmental campaigners who see it as undermining the EU’s key green policy.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday he “supported” such a reversal, having pushed for months to change the rules on phasing out combustion engines. “The reality is that there will still be millions of combustion engine-based cars around the world in 2035, 2040 and 2050,” he said.
Current laws, approved two years ago, require all new cars from 2035 to have zero CO2 emissions, effectively ending sales of hybrid and fossil fuel-only vehicles.
However, Manfred Weber, an MEP and president of the European People’s Party group, told Germany’s Bild newspaper that the 2035 deadline will be softened next week. “The technology ban on combustion engines is off the table,” he said. “All engines currently manufactured in Germany can therefore continue to be produced and sold.” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Merz, and much of the car industry have lobbied to allow continued hybrid sales.
Reports of a potential rollback have angered green campaigners. Colin Walker, head of transport at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said confirming the changes would “keep millions of European families stuck driving dirtier and more expensive petrol cars for longer,” delaying the switch to electric vehicles (EVs).
Some carmakers, including Volvo and Polestar, have criticised calls to weaken the 2035 deadline, arguing it would give Chinese rivals an advantage.
Weber said the rule change sends an important signal “to the entire automotive industry and secures tens of thousands of industrial jobs,” addressing concerns about the future of a key European industry.
He indicated the EU would allow continued sales of plug-in hybrid cars, including future models with long electric ranges and combustion engines for long journeys over 373 miles (600km). “For new registrations from 2035 onwards, a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions will now be mandatory for car manufacturers’ fleet targets, instead of 100%,” Weber told Bild.
A European Commission spokesperson, Paula Pinho, said on Friday the 2035 deadline was “still being discussed,” adding that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had acknowledged a clear demand for “more flexibility on the CO2 targets.”
Volkswagen, Stellantis, Renault, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW support dropping the ban, citing slower-than-expected consumer uptake of EVs since the 2022 decision.
Reports also suggest the EU will propose measures to encourage Europeans to make and buy small EVs, aiming to counter the growing presence of Chinese electric cars in the bloc. Incentives for a “made in Europe” small EV could follow Japan’s model, which offers benefits like lower insurance and taxes for owners of small electric kei cars.
Norway, with Europe’s highest EV adoption rate, boosted zero-emission car sales through VAT and purchase tax exemptions.This has resulted in over 90% of all new cars sold in 2025 being electric—a striking contrast to southern Europe, where a lack of infrastructure and incentives has led to a slow adoption of electric vehicles.
In Norway, nearly 30% of all cars on the road are now electric. In Italy, while the numbers are growing, electric vehicles still account for only about 12% of the market, according to figures from November.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs The EUs 2035 Ban on New Petrol Diesel Cars
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What is the EUs 2035 ban
Its a law passed by the European Union to stop the sale of new cars and vans that produce carbon emissions from their tailpipes effectively ending new petrol diesel and conventional hybrid sales from 2035
2 What does softened mean in this context
It means the law may be amended to allow a limited exception for vehicles running exclusively on synthetic carbonneutral fuels after 2035 The core ban on traditional petroldiesel remains
3 Why is the EU doing this
The primary goal is to fight climate change by drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector which is a major contributor
4 Does this mean I have to get rid of my current petrol car in 2035
No The ban only applies to new cars sold You can keep driving buying and selling used petrol and diesel cars after 2035
5 What cars will I be able to buy new after 2035
Primarily battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles If the softening is finalized you might also see a small number of new cars designed to run only on approved efuels
Advanced Practical Questions
6 What exactly are efuels
Efuels are created using renewable energy water and carbon captured from the air When burned in an engine they release CO2 but its roughly equal to what was used to make them aiming for a netzero carbon cycle
7 Why is allowing efuels controversial
Critics argue it
Undermines Electrification It could slow the urgent transition to full electrification by keeping combustion engine technology alive
Is Highly Inefficient The process of making efuel wastes much more renewable energy than directly using that energy to power a battery electric car
Is Likely Very Expensive Efuels are expected to cost significantly more per kilometer than electricity
8 Will efuel cars be common
Probably not They are expected to be a niche solution due to high cost and energy inefficiency The amendment is seen
