EU Carmakers Push Back Against 2035 Petrol and Diesel Ban

Highlights

• EU carmakers warn that 2035 zero-emission targets are unrealistic due to battery dependency, high costs, and limited charging networks.
• Automakers call for flexibility beyond electric vehicles, including hybrids, hydrogen, and low-carbon fuels to cut emissions.
• Industry leaders urge the EU to review car and van CO2 rules as well as heavy-duty truck and bus regulations.

The European Union (EU) has set ambitious CO2 emission targets for vehicles, including a 100% reduction by 2035, which effectively bans the sale of new petrol and diesel cars after that date.

However, leaders of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) and the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) argue these targets are “no longer feasible.”

In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, executives from Mercedes-Benz and Schaeffler AG said that while the auto industry supports the EU’s 2050 net-zero goal, the current rules are too rigid. They pointed out several challenges: Europe’s heavy reliance on Asia for batteries, uneven charging infrastructure, higher production costs, and trade tensions such as U.S. tariffs.

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At present, electric vehicles (EVs) make up only 15% of new car sales in the EU, and 9% for vans. The executives believe that expecting a 55% CO2 cut by 2030 and a full 100% cut by 2035 is unrealistic under today’s conditions. They argue that legal mandates and penalties alone will not drive the transition to cleaner transport.

Instead, they propose a more flexible approach, suggesting that the EU should also support technologies beyond EVs. These include plug-in hybrids, highly efficient combustion engines, hydrogen vehicles, and decarbonised fuels. They also called for a review of CO2 regulations for heavy-duty trucks and buses, which face their own transition challenges.

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The European Commission has already given automakers extra time to meet the 2025 CO2 targets, and political debate is growing. Some members of von der Leyen’s centre-right political group are even pushing for the EU to reverse the 2035 ban on combustion engines, showing that the issue remains highly contested.

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Source: Reuters