The European Commission has proposed watering down its 2035 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, reducing the requirement for 100% zero-emission vehicles to 90%. The move follows intense lobbying from the car industry and leaders of EU member states including Germany and Italy.
Under the current legislation, manufacturers were obliged to ensure that 100% of new cars and vans had zero emissions from 2035. The new proposal would allow up to 10% of production to continue using combustion engines, provided they are offset by other green measures such as using green steel or biofuels.
European climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra described the proposals as a “win-win” for consumers and industry, keeping Europe on the electrification course with a mix of incentives and obligations. The commission also announced measures to accelerate the delivery of small electric cars, including bonus credits for manufacturers and discounts for buyers.
Environmental groups criticised the move. Chris Heron of E-Mobility Europe said it was “the wrong time for Europe to take the wind out of its own sails”. Greenpeace UK’s policy director Dr Douglas Parr urged the UK not to follow suit, calling it “economic self-sabotage”.
The proposals, which require approval from EU governments and the European parliament, represent the bloc’s biggest retreat from its green policies enacted over the previous five years. The commission president Ursula von der Leyen insisted that “Europe remains at the forefront of the global clean transition”.
