{"id":9812,"date":"2025-12-16T20:06:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T20:06:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/eu-combustion-engine-ban-2035\/"},"modified":"2025-12-16T20:06:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T20:06:11","slug":"eu-combustion-engine-ban-2035","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/eu-combustion-engine-ban-2035\/","title":{"rendered":"EU scales back 2035 combustion-engine car ban in setback for climate"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p><time datetime=\"2025-12-16\">December 16, 2025<\/time> \u2014 In Brussels, the European Commission proposed on Tuesday to dilute the EU\u2019s 2035 ban on the sale of new combustion-engine cars, cutting the requirement from a full phase-out to a 90% tailpipe emissions reduction target. The change would allow a 10% carve\u2011out of new vehicles after 2035 \u2014 potentially plug\u2011in hybrids, cars running on e\u2011fuels or models offset through low\u2011carbon steel\u2014and marks a notable retreat from the 2023 commitment. The move, framed by the Commission as support for the continent\u2019s auto industry, is widely seen by climate advocates as a setback for the EU\u2019s emissions trajectory.<\/p>\n<h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The European Commission proposed replacing the 100% sale ban approved in 2023 with a 90% tailpipe emissions reduction requirement for new cars from 2035, leaving a 10% carve\u2011out.<\/li>\n<li>The Commission said the remaining 10% could be offset via low\u2011carbon steel, e\u2011fuels or biofuels; exact compliance rules will be set in implementing texts.<\/li>\n<li>Cars and vans account for roughly 15% of the EU\u2019s greenhouse\u2011gas emissions, making the 2035 policy central to the bloc\u2019s 2050 carbon\u2011neutrality obligation.<\/li>\n<li>The proposal follows pressure from automakers facing high energy costs, export tariffs to the U.S., Chinese competition and uneven charging infrastructure across member states.<\/li>\n<li>Environmental group T&#038;E warned the dilution could undermine long\u2011term emissions cuts and signal that commitments are reversible.<\/li>\n<li>Ford\u2019s recent retreat from some EV plans\u2014announced alongside a $19.5 billion charge\u2014illustrates industry strain amid shifting regulatory and market dynamics.<\/li>\n<li>Lifecycle studies cited in coverage indicate EVs can be more carbon\u2011intensive to produce (driven by battery manufacture) but deliver roughly 40% lower lifetime emissions than equivalent petrol cars.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>In 2023 the European Parliament and Council agreed on a de facto ban on the sale of new vehicles with internal combustion engines by 2035, intended to accelerate the shift to zero\u2011tailpipe\u2011emission transport. That mandate was part of a broader package aimed at meeting the EU\u2019s legal commitment to become carbon\u2011neutral by 2050. Automakers initially planned substantial investments in electric vehicle (EV) production to meet the stricter standards, but those plans have been challenged by rising energy prices, supply\u2011chain bottlenecks and strong competition from low\u2011cost EVs manufactured in China.<\/p>\n<p>Charging infrastructure across the EU remains uneven: some member states have dense, fast\u2011charging networks while others lag behind, affecting consumer willingness to buy EVs. At the same time, transatlantic trade tensions and new U.S. tariff and subsidy policies have changed the competitive calculus for European producers. These industry and market pressures set the context for the Commission\u2019s decision to propose a partial rollback rather than press ahead with a total sales ban.<\/p>\n<h2>Main event<\/h2>\n<p>The European Commission published a proposal on Tuesday that would require carmakers to achieve a 90% reduction in tailpipe emissions for new cars from 2035; the allowance for 10% of new vehicles to fall outside the reduction target can be fulfilled through plug\u2011in hybrids, approved low\u2011carbon fuels, or material\u2011based offsets such as low\u2011carbon steel. The Commission framed the package as a combined environmental and industrial policy designed to protect jobs and competitiveness while keeping a pathway toward decarbonisation.<\/p>\n<p>Commission President Ursula von der Leyen defended the approach, saying Europe remains &#8220;at the forefront of the global clean transition,&#8221; and presenting the measures alongside support for vehicle manufacturing and green industrial supply chains. European lawmakers from some centre\u2011right groups signalled support for loosening the ban; Reuters reported statements from EPP leadership indicating backing for the new plan and calls to abolish a strict ban.<\/p>\n<p>Industry officials and several member states welcomed the proposal as a pragmatic compromise that gives manufacturers more time to adapt production lines and supply chains. Environmental groups, by contrast, said the move weakens a key lever for rapid emissions reductions and raises questions about policy credibility ahead of 2050 targets. The Commission\u2019s text still needs to pass through the co\u2011legislative process; observers say approval in the Parliament is likely but not guaranteed.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; implications<\/h2>\n<p>Policy\u2011wise, shifting from a 100% sales ban to a 90% tailpipe reduction introduces complexity into enforcement and measurement. Tailpipe targets require robust testing and monitoring regimes and create incentives for technological workarounds (for example, high\u2011efficiency internal combustion engines paired with offsets). The allowance of offsets such as low\u2011carbon steel or e\u2011fuels raises governance questions about additionality, verification and lifecycle accounting.<\/p>\n<p>For the auto industry, the proposal reduces immediate regulatory risk and gives firms more flexibility in product portfolios, which could ease near\u2011term capital expenditure pressures. Yet it may slow the pace of electrification, weakening economies of scale for batteries and charging networks and potentially increasing long\u2011term costs for consumers and suppliers. The change may also affect investment flows: investors betting on a full rapid transition to EVs could reassess manufacturer valuations and supply\u2011chain strategies.<\/p>\n<p>On climate outcomes, the shortfall from a full phase\u2011out could result in higher cumulative emissions through 2050 depending on how the 10% carve\u2011out is used and whether offsets are real and permanent. If offsets rely on unproven technologies or marginal fuel swaps, actual emissions savings could be lower than headline figures suggest. Internationally, the EU\u2019s perceived moderation could influence policy debates in other jurisdictions and weaken the bloc\u2019s leverage in global industrial standard\u2011setting for green vehicles.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Metric<\/th>\n<th>Gas\/Hybrid (manufacture)<\/th>\n<th>EV (manufacture)<\/th>\n<th>EV (lifetime vs gas)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Average production emissions<\/td>\n<td>Baseline<\/td>\n<td>~40% higher (battery production)<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Lifetime emissions<\/td>\n<td>Reference<\/td>\n<td>~40% lower than equivalent petrol cars<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The table summarises lifecycle figures reported in recent coverage: battery manufacture makes EV production more carbon\u2011intensive up front, while lower operational emissions typically give EVs a lifetime advantage. These averages depend heavily on electricity mix, vehicle size, battery chemistry and manufacturing practices; region\u2011specific grid decarbonisation and recycling can materially change the outcomes.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; quotes<\/h2>\n<p>Commission leadership presented the package as balancing climate objectives and industrial realities. Below are representative reactions from officials, industry and advocacy groups, with brief context.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Europe remains at the forefront of the global clean transition.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The Commission used this line to signal that the EU intends to keep leading on decarbonisation even while adjusting specific rules. Officials said the package combines emissions targets with industrial support measures to protect jobs and supply chains.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;The European Commission will be putting forward a clear proposal to abolish the ban on combustion engines&#8230; It was a serious industrial policy mistake.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Manfred Weber, EPP leader (reported comment)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Comments from centre\u2011right lawmakers reflected industry concerns and helped shape momentum toward loosening the 2035 rule. Reuters reported that EPP figures backed replacing the ban with the emissions\u2011target approach.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;This dilution could have significant consequences for the climate&#8230; a signal that long\u2011term commitments can be rolled back just as they start to deliver real emissions cuts.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Tim Dexter, Policy Manager, Transport &#038; Environment (T&#038;E)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Environmental NGOs highlighted the risk that a weakened standard reduces certainty for investors in charging infrastructure and battery factories, and could slow the rate at which tailpipe emissions fall.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: what the 90% tailpipe target and offsets mean<\/summary>\n<p>A 90% tailpipe emissions reduction target requires automakers to ensure that, on average, new vehicles they sell emit 90% less CO2 from the tailpipe compared with a defined baseline. The 10% carve\u2011out allows some new models to exceed that limit if compensating measures are used. Offsets could include using low\u2011carbon steel (with lower emissions during production), e\u2011fuels and biofuels that lower well\u2011to\u2011wheel emissions, or other verified mechanisms. Lifecycle accounting evaluates total emissions from raw material extraction, manufacture, use and disposal; different accounting choices materially change reported outcomes.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Whether the Parliament will formally approve the Commission\u2019s proposal unchanged; reports indicate likely support but final votes and texts are not yet settled.<\/li>\n<li>How member states will translate the 10% carve\u2011out into concrete vehicle categories\u2014whether predominantly plug\u2011in hybrids, ICEs on e\u2011fuels, or capped sales by manufacturer\u2014remains to be defined in implementing rules.<\/li>\n<li>The precise emissions savings from the new package depend on the design and verification of offsets and lifecycle assumptions, which are still under negotiation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom line<\/h2>\n<p>The Commission\u2019s shift from a full ban to a 90% tailpipe\u2011reduction approach is a pragmatic response to industry and political pressure, but it weakens the signal that had been pushing faster electrification. The policy change could ease near\u2011term industrial adjustment costs while introducing longer\u2011term uncertainty about the pace of emissions declines in transport.<\/p>\n<p>Key questions now are how the 10% carve\u2011out is implemented, how offsets are verified, and whether complementary policies\u2014stronger incentives for charging infrastructure, targeted subsidies for fast EV adoption, and stricter lifecycle accounting\u2014will be deployed to secure real emissions reductions. Observers should watch the legislative process closely: small drafting choices in the coming months will determine whether the compromise preserves meaningful climate outcomes or materially delays decarbonisation.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/12\/16\/business\/eu-combustion-engine-ban-changed-intl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CNN<\/a> (news report \u2014 original coverage of the Commission proposal and lifecycle figures)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/commission\/presscorner\/home\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">European Commission<\/a> (official press releases and policy documents)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reuters<\/a> (news reporting on lawmakers&#8217; reactions and party statements)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transportenvironment.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Transport &#038; Environment (T&#038;E)<\/a> (NGO statement and analysis)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/corporate.ford.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ford Motor Company<\/a> (company filings and investor releases on EV plans and the $19.5bn charge)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>December 16, 2025 \u2014 In Brussels, the European Commission proposed on Tuesday to dilute the EU\u2019s 2035 ban on the sale of new combustion-engine cars, cutting the requirement from a full phase-out to a 90% tailpipe emissions reduction target. The change would allow a 10% carve\u2011out of new vehicles after 2035 \u2014 potentially plug\u2011in hybrids, &#8230; <a title=\"EU scales back 2035 combustion-engine car ban in setback for climate\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/eu-combustion-engine-ban-2035\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about EU scales back 2035 combustion-engine car ban in setback for climate\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9807,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"EU scales back 2035 combustion-engine ban | Deep News","rank_math_description":"The EU proposed reducing the 2035 new\u2011car combustion\u2011engine sales ban to a 90% tailpipe reduction with a 10% carve\u2011out, a move that eases industry pressure but complicates climate targets.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"EU,combustion-engine ban,2035,emissions,electric vehicles","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9812","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9812"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9812\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}