EU at a crossroads: will 2035 be the end for combustion engines?
The EU wants to ban the sales of new petrol or diesel cars after 2035. The goal behind it is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make the EU climate neutral by 2050. But with political pressure mounting, will this ban be scrapped before it can even be put into place?
In a report in September, the European Environment Agency urged the EU to put into action the policies it’s already agreed to in the European Green Deal – the EU’s flagship legislation on climate. It was all the rage a few years ago, but the mood has since changed, and especially after the European elections in 2024, climate is not in vogue right now.
Instead, attention has shifted to other priorities like defence and competitiveness. Green policies are facing heavier criticism and there are attempts to roll back already agreed-upon legislation and to just stop any kind of new legislation as well. The ban on fossil fuel cars could become the latest victim of this backlash.
How realistic is the EU’s 2035 timeline, and what does it mean for car manufacturers, drivers, and the European economy? In this video, we explore the roadmap, the hurdles, and the big question: will Europe really leave the engine of the past behind?
