The European Commission has changed its rules for selling new petrol and diesel cars. Now, some of these cars can still be sold after 2035. This change happened because car companies, especially in Germany, asked for it. The original plan was to stop selling these cars completely.
The new rules say that 90% of new cars sold from 2035 must have no emissions. However, 10% can still use petrol, diesel, or hybrid engines. The car industry said that people are not yet buying enough electric cars. Without this change, companies would have to pay large fines.
The new plan also requires car makers to use steel with less carbon. It also says that biofuels and e-fuels will help reduce pollution from the remaining petrol and diesel cars. This shows a more balanced way to reduce emissions, not just using electric cars.
Car companies said that changing to electric engines costs a lot of money. They also said it is hard to make enough electric cars for everyone. The possibility of paying big fines helped the Commission change its original plan.
But, some environmental groups are not happy. They worry that this change will slow down the use of electric cars. They think that still selling combustion engine cars could make Europe less competitive. Anna Krajinska from T&E said, "The UK must stand firm."
This difference in rules also makes people wonder about Europe's position compared to countries like the UK. The EU's new rules can affect business decisions and what people buy. The change gives car companies more options. But, it also starts a discussion about if it is a good step or a bad step for fighting climate change.