EU moves towards softening 2035 ban on petrol and diesel cars

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 21:32 · Archive

The European Union is moving towards weakening its 2035 emissions target for new cars.

The European Union is moving towards softening its 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars as the bloc seeks consensus on how much to weaken the target. Voting blocs from the centre-right to the centre-left accounting for 55 per cent of the European Parliament have agreed to require automakers to reduce CO2 emissions from new cars by 87.5 per cent by 2035, with a further 7.5 per cent of emissions offset through purchases of green steel.

The European Commission proposed in December 2025 to change the target to a 90 per cent reduction, with CO2 output from new internal combustion engine vehicles offset by the use of synthetic fuels and green steel production. The current rules require a 100 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2035, effectively banning the sale of new petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars.

The Commission was pressured by automakers and some member states to reduce the target owing to slower-than-expected electric vehicle adoption, competition from Chinese manufacturers, and the high costs of developing new EV architectures. For new rules to take effect, the European Parliament, European Commission and European Council must reach agreement, after which legislation must be passed by each member state. This week Emmanuel Macron, president of France, and Friedrich Merz, chancellor of Germany, agreed a common stance on the issue.

How it is being reported

• Europe inches closer to watering down its 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel carsThe EU is still figuring out how much to soften its new-vehicle emissions target for 2035, but the bloc is slowly moving towards an agreement.The West Australian · 27 Oct, 21:00
• Europe inches closer to watering down its 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel carsThe EU is still figuring out how much to soften its new-vehicle emissions target for 2035, but the bloc is slowly moving towards an agreement.Perth Now · 27 Oct, 21:00

In this story: European Union · European Parliament · European Commission · European Council · Emmanuel Macron · Friedrich Merz · France · Germany

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