(de-news.net) – Markus Söder, the Minister-President of Bavaria and Chairman of the Christian Social Union (CSU), has reiterated his call for the European Union to rescind its proposed prohibition on the sale of newly manufactured vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines, scheduled to take effect in 2035. In a televised statement following deliberations within the coalition committee and the automotive summit, Söder asserted that the envisaged stringent phase-out of combustion engine technology warrants reconsideration.

He contended that, under prevailing conditions, a comprehensive transition to electric mobility by the designated year remains implausible. Drawing attention to the current level of market penetration for electric vehicles — estimated at approximately 14 to 15 percent — Söder expressed skepticism regarding the feasibility of achieving full electrification of the vehicle fleet within the prescribed timeframe. In view of these figures, he underscored the importance of reassessing the regulatory framework at the European level, arguing that existing measures should be discontinued in order to more accurately reflect technological capabilities and infrastructural constraints.

Söder further stated that during coalition committee negotiations, he had been most outspoken as an advocate for lifting the combustion engine ban, characterizing his position as particularly resolute. He also observed that certain members of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) remained firmly committed to narrowly defined climate policy objectives, which, in his view, lacked sufficient flexibility to accommodate broader economic and technological considerations.