EU considers relaxing 2035 ban on internal combustion engines

A new proposal by rapporteur Jens Gieseke suggests that the European Union may abandon the planned total ban on new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles after 2035. The proposal, which is set to be reviewed by the Committee on Tourism and Transport (TRAN), offers a more moderate approach to the current ‘zero vision’ policy.

Under the new framework, the requirement for only zero-emission vehicles (such as electric or hydrogen) would be removed. Instead, the focus would shift to significant CO2 reductions. For light vehicles, the 2030 target remains a 55% reduction compared to 2021 levels, with a 2035 target of a 90% reduction. For light commercial vehicles, the 2030 target would be lowered to 30%, and the 2035 target would be an 80% reduction.

The shift is motivated by declining employment in the European automotive industry and the uneven pace of electric vehicle adoption across member states. The proposal aims to provide relief to manufacturers during the transition and protect consumers in regions where electric vehicles remain expensive and public charging infrastructure is insufficient. Manufacturers would likely meet these new limits using hybrid models, plug-in hybrids (PHEV), and range-extended electric vehicles (REEV).