**Brussels, Belgium** – The European Commission has significantly altered its stringent regulations concerning the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles, opting for a more lenient approach that will permit a fraction of internal combustion engine cars to be sold beyond the original 2035 deadline. This recalibration, driven by considerable lobbying efforts from the automotive industry, particularly German manufacturers, pivots from a mandate requiring all new vehicles to be "zero emission" to one where 90% must meet this criterion.
The revised legislation, which has sent ripples through the green transport advocacy sector, allows for the remaining 10% of new car registrations from 2035 to be powered by conventional petrol or diesel engines, or by hybrid systems. This concession acknowledges concerns voiced by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), which argued that current market demand for fully electric vehicles (EVs) is not yet robust enough to absorb 100% of new sales. Without these modifications, manufacturers faced the prospect of incurring substantial financial penalties, potentially amounting to billions of euros, for failing to meet the original uncompromising target.
Beyond the adjusted sales quota, the Commission's updated framework introduces a new requirement for carmakers to integrate steel produced with lower carbon emissions within the EU into their vehicle manufacturing processes. Furthermore, the plan anticipates that biofuels and synthetic e-fuels, derived from captured carbon dioxide, will play a crucial role in offsetting the environmental impact of the petrol and diesel vehicles that remain on the market. This strategy suggests a more nuanced approach to decarbonisation, moving beyond a sole reliance on full electrification.
The impetus for this policy shift underscores the complex interplay between environmental aspirations and industrial realities. Carmakers have consistently highlighted the immense investment required for the transition to electric powertrains and the challenges associated with scaling up production to meet a 100% zero-emission mandate by 2035. The threat of significant financial repercussions for non-compliance appears to have been a decisive factor in prompting the Commission to amend its original, more ambitious, timeline.
However, the decision has drawn criticism from environmental groups, such as Transport & Environment (T&E). There are palpable concerns that this dilution of the zero-emission target could decelerate the overall pace of EV adoption across the continent. Critics argue that by allowing a continued market for combustion engines, the EU risks falling behind in global automotive innovation and competitiveness. T&E UK's director, Anna Krajinska, issued a stark warning, stating, "The UK must stand firm. Our ZEV mandate is already driving jobs, investment and innovation into the UK. As major exporters we cannot compete unless we innovate, and global markets are going electric fast."
This divergence in approach also raises questions about the EU's comparative standing with other nations, including the UK, which has its own phase-out plans for conventional vehicles. The implications of the EU's revised policy are far-reaching, potentially impacting investment decisions, consumer choices, and the trajectory of the automotive industry’s transformation. While the move offers a degree of flexibility to manufacturers, it simultaneously ignites a debate about whether it represents a pragmatic compromise or a detrimental step backward in the fight against climate change.