EU Ditches 2035 Petrol Car Ban to Save Automakers!

The EU on Tuesday walked back a 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars that was hailed as a milestone in fighting climate change, as part of a push to support embattled automakers.

AFP reports: Carmakers will need to cut 90 percent of exhaust emissions by 2035, with the rest “compensated” in various ways, under the European Commission review which permits a limited number of combustion-engine cars to be sold past the target date.

Source: Unsplash

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In a stunning U-turn that has left climate activists reeling, the European Union has quietly walked back its landmark 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars – a policy once hailed as a decisive blow against global warming. Under massive pressure from struggling European automakers and key member states like Germany and Italy, the European Commission has slashed the required CO2 emissions cut from 100% to just 90%, effectively allowing a limited number of combustion-engine vehicles to remain on sale beyond 2035.

The move exposes the harsh reality behind Brussels' green agenda: when jobs, profits, and political power are on the line, ambitious climate promises crumble. Carmakers will now be able to "compensate" the remaining 10% of emissions through various loopholes, including the use of CO2-neutral fuels, advanced biofuels, and even "green steel" in vehicle production. Plug-in hybrids and range-extenders – vehicles that still rely on petrol or diesel – will continue to play a major role after 2035.

Latest breaking update (December 16, 2025): The European Commission officially unveiled its automotive package, confirming the reduction of the 2035 tailpipe emissions target to 90% compared to 2021 levels. This pragmatic shift acknowledges market realities and protects tens of thousands of European jobs while still pushing toward electrification. Transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikōstas stated that non-electric cars could represent 30–35% of sales in 2035 under the new rules. Source: Reuters

This reversal marks the biggest retreat from the EU's aggressive green policies in years. Industry giants like Volkswagen welcomed the decision as "pragmatic and in line with market conditions," while critics warn it delays the urgent transition to full zero-emission mobility and hands an advantage to Chinese EV competitors.

Is this a sensible rescue of Europe's automotive heartland – or a dangerous betrayal of the planet's future? The battle over the combustion engine is far from over.