In a plot twist worthy of a season finale, the European Union has effectively scrapped its 2035 ban on new combustion-engine cars, upending years of policy planning, industry investment, and political messaging. The bombshell came not from a leaked memo or late-night committee vote, but from Manfred Weber—president of the EPP, the European Parliament’s largest party—who told German outlet Bild that the legislation is “off the table.”

If confirmed, the move marks a seismic shift away from the EU’s previous 100% CO₂-reduction requirement for new vehicles by 2035, which would have forced manufacturers to sell only EVs. Instead, Weber says the EU will adopt more flexible fleet emissions rules, mandating a 90% cut in CO₂ output from new cars starting in 2035. Crucially, that remaining 10% gives combustion engines—likely running on synthetic or low-carbon fuels—a lease on life.

Weber doubled down, adding that no complete phaseout will be imposed in 2040 either. “The technology ban on combustion engines is off the table,” he said, framing the move as a lifeline for European manufacturing: “This secures tens of thousands of industrial jobs,” and sends an “important signal to the entire automotive industry.”

For automakers, that signal is clarity—something in short supply lately.

Just days ago, reports suggested the EU was considering pushing the ban from 2035 to 2040, aligning policy with more cautious EV-adoption forecasts and intense lobbying from heavyweights like Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, BMW, and Stellantis. Instead, the EU appears ready to tear up the 2021 rulebook entirely.

This pivot reflects a political and industrial reality: EV sales are rising, but not fast enough to meet the aggressive targets set earlier this decade. Charging infrastructure remains uneven, battery costs are stubborn, and consumer hesitation has proven more resilient than anticipated. Europe’s largest automakers—some already navigating declining EV orders—have been increasingly vocal about the need for a slower, more flexible transition.

The official announcement is expected on Tuesday, December 16, but Weber’s comments leave little doubt about where the EU is heading.

The UK Question

What happens next for the UK—once the first major economy to propose its own ICE sales ban back in 2020—remains unclear. The country’s EV adoption rate is higher than the EU average, but still trails significantly behind government targets (28% by 2025). A dramatic policy reversal in Europe will inevitably pressure Westminster to reassess its own roadmap, especially as automakers weigh where to invest in future combustion-engine production.

What This Means

If confirmed, the EU’s decision doesn’t kill the EV revolution—but it does recalibrate the speed. Internal combustion, once considered in hospice care, is now back on its feet and training for a much longer race. Expect more hybrid tech, more investment in e-fuels, and manufacturers reshuffling product plans they thought were set in stone.

In short: the next decade of the European car market just became a lot more interesting.

Source: Autocar