The European Union’s planned ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035 is likely to be softened, according to a senior member of the European parliament, prompting warnings of backlash from environmental groups.
Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s party, said the European Commission is expected to move away from a complete prohibition on combustion engines. Rather than enforcing a 100% zero-emissions requirement, carmakers would instead face a 90% reduction target for fleet-wide CO₂ emissions, allowing some hybrid vehicles to remain on sale beyond 2035.
The proposed shift follows lobbying from Germany, Italy and much of the European automotive industry, which argue that electric vehicle uptake has been slower than anticipated and that a more gradual transition is needed to protect jobs. Weber said the change would send an important signal to the industry and help secure tens of thousands of positions.
Environmental campaigners have criticised the move as a weakening of the EU’s green deal, while some manufacturers, including Volvo and Polestar, warn it could give Chinese competitors an edge. The European Commission said the 2035 deadline is still under discussion, with increasing calls for greater flexibility on emissions targets.
