EU: Petrol And Diesel Powered Vehicles May Last Longer Than 2035

Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s Party, the largest political group in the European Parliament, has suggested that the European Union should reconsider its ban on the sale of new combustion engine cars after 2035 in order to support the car industry. He emphasized that consumers should still have the option to purchase petrol and diesel cars as long as carbon dioxide emissions are offset. This proposal comes as the UK recently eased its electric vehicle targets to support its own auto industry.

The automotive sector in Europe is facing challenges such as layoffs due to increased costs and competition from Chinese imports, as well as the threat of a 25 percent tariff on car imports imposed by the US. Despite some flexibility given to manufacturers on emissions targets earlier this year, the current deadline for the combustion engine ban (2035) remains unchanged.

In the first quarter of this year, new car registrations in the EU declined by 1.9%, with March showing a slight improvement compared to previous months. Hybrid-electric vehicles were the most popular choice, followed by petrol vehicles, battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and diesel cars. Registrations of BEVs and hybrid-electric vehicles saw significant increases in countries like Germany, Belgium, and France, while some countries experienced declines in BEV registrations.

The European car industry is navigating challenges and changes in consumer preferences, with a shift towards electric and hybrid vehicles becoming more apparent in the market.