EU to ditch petrol and diesel ban, claim reports

The European Union appears set to abandon a ban on combustion-engined cars by 2035, according to new reports.

Manfred Weber, president of the EPP – the European Parliament’s largest party – told German tabloid newspaper Bild that the plan was being abandoned and there would, instead, be more flexible rules to cut CO2 emissions from 2035.

The ban has been seen as central to efforts to push manufacturers into only making EVs and encouraging drivers to switch to electric. It now appears to be under threat after pressure from car makers and some European governments.

Although no decision has officially been announced, Weber told Bild: “For new registrations from 2035 onwards, a 90 percent reduction in CO2 emissions will now be mandatory for car manufacturers’ fleet targets, instead of 100 percent.

“There will also be no 100 percent target from 2040 onwards. This means that the technology ban on combustion engines is off the table. All engines currently manufactured in Germany can therefore continue to be produced and sold.”

The move, which will allow for plug-in hybrid and range-extender sales beyond 2035, would ease pressure on car makers to switch production entirely to EVs, even as most continue to swell their all-electric ranges.

Weber said the move sent an important signal “to the entire automotive industry and secures tens of thousands of industrial jobs”.

Pressure to delay or drop the ban has been growing, with major European car makers including Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW, Renault and Stellantis lobbying to push it back to 2040, along with national governments including Germany and Italy.

Those against the ban have cited slower than expected EV sales in Europe and stiff competition from low-priced Chinese newcomers as threats to Europe’s car industry.

The European Commission is expected to officially announce its intentions on December 16.

The UK has its own plans to phase out sales of pure combustion vehicles by 2030 and for all new car sales to be zero emission by 2035. It is not clear if the EU’s decision will have any impact on the UK’s policy, but the UK’s EV uptake is significantly ahead of most of Europe. Electric models accounted for more than half of all new car registrations in November and now hold a 23% market share so far this year.