The EU’s planned ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035 is set to be softened, according to a senior European parliament politician, in a move likely to anger environmental campaigners.
Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s party group, said the European Commission is expected to drop the idea of a total ban on combustion engines. Instead, carmakers would be required to meet a 90% reduction in fleet-wide CO₂ emissions from 2035, rather than the previously agreed 100%, allowing some hybrid vehicles to remain on sale.
The proposed change follows lobbying from Germany, Italy and much of the automotive industry, which argue that electric vehicle uptake has been slower than anticipated and that flexibility is needed to protect jobs. Weber said the move would help secure tens of thousands of roles in the sector.
Green groups and some manufacturers, including Volvo and Polestar, oppose the shift, warning it could undermine the EU’s green deal and benefit Chinese rivals. The European Commission said discussions on the 2035 deadline are continuing, amid growing calls for more flexibility on emissions targets.
