(de-news.net) – Manfred Weber, Chair of the European People’s Party (EPP) in the European Parliament, has signaled a potential reconsideration of the European Union’s planned 2035 prohibition on internal combustion engines. The CSU parliamentarian reiterated his commitment to climate neutrality, advocating for a more adaptable strategy by proposing to halt the phase-out of combustion engine technology.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged the concerns expressed by industrial stakeholders and underscored the importance of reconciling decarbonization objectives with technological openness. In response, the Commission has announced an expedited review of the regulatory framework.
However, Audi Chief Executive Officer Gernot Döllner criticized the proposal, asserting that electric vehicles remain the most effective means of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. CDU/CSU Bundestag member Tilman Kuban, on the other hand argued that rescinding the combustion engine ban is essential to safeguarding industrial employment, citing widespread factory closures and increasing deindustrialization.
A high-level evaluation of the fleet emissions review is scheduled for mid-December, involving von der Leyen and senior automotive industry representatives. According to media reports, preliminary decisions are expected before the end of the year, with von der Leyen confirming that initial findings will be published in December. Internal Commission documents suggest the introduction of targeted exemptions for engines powered by climate-neutral fuels and for plug-in hybrid vehicles. Historically, the automotive sector has lobbied for more permissive regulatory conditions.
Under existing EU fleet emission standards, newly registered vehicles must not exceed an average of 93.6 grams of CO₂ per kilometer. By 2035, this threshold will be progressively reduced to zero, effectively prohibiting the sale of new vehicles equipped with combustion engines. These measures form part of the EU’s “Fit-for-55” legislative package, which seeks to limit global temperature rise to slightly above two degrees Celsius. Notably, the International Court of Justice recently affirmed that states exceeding the 1.5-degree warming threshold may be held legally accountable.
