by European legislators and automakers have long debated the 2035 deadline for banning the sale of cars with emissions. What once seemed like an immovable deadline now appears to be softening under pressure to keep cars with internal combustion engines on sale long after that date.
Germany’s Intervention
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz joined the discussion by sending a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In it, he called on the EU to allow car companies to continue selling new models with internal combustion engines after 2035.
The European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tsitsikostas, noted that this letter was “very well received in Brussels.” He emphasized that the EU must do everything possible to “protect European companies, European industry, and European production.”
Schedule Changes and Approaches
In an interview with Handelsblatt, Tsitsikostas revealed that the EU has moved its deadline to December 10 for confirming emission standards. The process has been delayed by several weeks as the commission is still clarifying details. When the package is ready, it “will contain everything: from revising CO2 targets for company fleets to many other points.”
A Future for Eco-Fuels?
Tsitsikostas added that the commission is considering all technological developments, noting that a role could be found for “zero and low-carbon fuels, advanced biofuels.” He did not explicitly confirm that vehicles with internal combustion engines running on such fuels would remain on sale after 2035, but it seems increasingly likely.
Automakers’ Preparation
Some major European automakers are already preparing for such a possibility. Porsche has invested in synthetic fuel production in Chile, while BMW powers many of its diesel models with fuel derived from vegetable oil.
Commenting on the change in the tone of the discussion, Tsitsikostas explained: “We want to stick to our goals, but we must take into account all the latest geopolitical developments. We must be careful not to jeopardize our competitiveness, while helping European industry maintain technological leadership.”
His comments reflect a broader reassessment of views across Europe, where environmental ambitions must now coexist with industrial stability and global competition.
These changes in the approach to the 2035 ICE ban demonstrate how dynamic the situation is. The initial rigid framework is clashing with economic realities and technological innovations, such as synthetic fuel. This could lead to a more flexible and technology-neutral policy that encourages emission reductions, but not necessarily through full electrification. The success of alternatives like eco-fuels will depend on their economic viability and production scalability, which remains an open question for the future European car market.
