Such a proposal was made in July 2021. This means that from 2035, the sale of petrol and diesel cars in the EU will virtually stop and there will be a complete switch to electric cars.
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The aim of this decision is to help achieve Europe’s climate goals, in particular carbon neutrality, by 2050.
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At the request of several Member States, including Germany and Italy, EU environment ministers also agreed on the possibility of allowing alternative technologies, such as synthetic fuels or hybrid cars, in the future, provided that they can achieve a complete cessation of greenhouse gas emissions.
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Environment ministers meeting in Luxembourg also extended the end of 2035 of the carbon leakage exemption for so – called “niche” manufacturers or those producing less than 10,000 cars a year. This exception, sometimes referred to as the “Ferrari patch”, will benefit mainly luxury car manufacturers.
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The agreement of the environment ministers has yet to be negotiated with members of the European Parliament in order to reach a final compromise.
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“This is a major challenge for our automotive industry,” said Anjes Panjier-Rhinaser, the French Minister for the Transition, who chaired the EU environment ministers’ meeting. However, she said it was a “necessity” given the competition from China and the United States, which are heavily focused on electric car production.
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