Combustion Engine Ban from 2035: Merz and Macron Plan to Relax EU Rules

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Combustion Engine Ban from 2035: Merz and Macron Plan to Relax EU Rules.

According to a report by the Frankfurter Rundschau, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron are planning to relax the EU's planned ban on combustion engines for 2035. Instead of mandating a 100-percent CO2 reduction for new car fleets as before, the target is set to fall to 80 percent. For the European automotive industry, this would be a noticeable relief — the pressure to switch completely to electric vehicles by 2035 would ease.

What the relaxation would mean in concrete terms

A 100-percent CO2 reduction target for new car fleets can only be achieved if virtually only electric cars are newly registered — that was the logic behind the original combustion engine ban from 2035. If the figure were to drop to 80 percent, manufacturers would once again have more room to maneuver: they would still have to emit significantly less CO2, but could equip part of their fleet with non-electric powertrains.

What remains open so far

The Frankfurter Rundschau cites media reports without naming the underlying sources. When the initiative is to become official, whether it is directed at the EU Commission, the European Parliament, or the EU Council, and how the other member states will react, is not apparent from the report. Confirmation from the Federal Chancellery in Berlin or the Élysée Palace in Paris was not initially available.