Following initial reports of the EU Commission's plan to soften the 2035 combustion engine ban to a 90% CO2 reduction target, Germany claims success amid shifting geopolitical and economic pressures, with flexibilities allowing continued production of gasoline and diesel engines.
Building on the EU Commission's proposed adjustment to the 2035 vehicle emissions rules—from 100% CO2 reduction to 90%—Germany has declared a policy win. EPP leader Manfred Weber celebrated the move as consigning the 'end of combustion engines' to 'history' during a Heidelberg summit with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, noting that manufacturers like BMW and Audi can sustain gasoline and diesel production post-2035.
This revision traces back to the 2019 Green Deal, conceived amid strong green momentum but reshaped by Covid-19 and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The changes reflect industrial pressures and political shifts since earlier criticism from Greens MEP Michael Bloss and SPD's Tiemo Wölken, who decried undemocratic processes.
The official announcement is slated for Tuesday, led by Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné and others, introducing 'flexibilities' alongside battery and service vehicle measures. Approval still requires European Parliament majority and 15 member states (65% population), with divides between northern states favoring strict rules and larger ones like Germany, Italy, and Poland pushing relaxations.
