The goodbye to gasoline and diesel by 2035 is no longer so certain: Europe delays the decisive vote until further notice
05/10/2026 15:00
Updated to
05/10/2026 15:00
Europe has not yet made a final decision on what will happen to internal combustion engines starting in 2035. A crucial vote scheduled for this Monday in the European Parliament’s Transport Committee has been postponed due to ongoing disagreements among the main political groups regarding the extent to which current regulations should be relaxed.
According to a spokesperson for the European People’s Party (PPE) and the office of German MEP Jens Gieseke, the vote will be delayed by approximately two weeks. The political groups need more time to reach an agreement on rules that could significantly alter the future of gasoline, diesel, and hybrid cars in Europe.
Europe aims to achieve a 90% reduction in emissions by 2035, down from 100%
The debate stems from a proposal submitted by the European Commission to change the current target set for 2035. Current regulations require a 100% reduction in CO2 emissions from new cars compared to 2021 levels. In practice, this excludes new vehicles that emit CO2 during use.
The Commission’s proposal reduces that target from 100% to 90%. The remaining 10% could be offset through various mechanisms, including credits related to the use of sustainable fuels and low-emission steel produced within the European Union. The approach aims to introduce greater technological flexibility without abandoning the community’s goal of moving toward climate-neutral mobility.
This modification would allow certain vehicles with internal combustion engines to remain in use after 2035. These could include plug-in hybrids, electric cars with extended range, and even conventional vehicles, all under the conditions and offset mechanisms ultimately established by regulations.
The European People’s Party wants to go even further
The European Commission’s proposal has also failed to resolve the debate. The PPE, the largest group in the European Parliament, aims to introduce even greater flexibility. The issue is that it is unclear whether it can secure the necessary support from social democrats and liberals to implement its proposals.
"We need a framework that combines climate protection with the competitiveness of the automotive industry. I want a stable and clear agreement within the political center," said Manfred Weber, president of the PPE group, explaining the need to reach a compromise before putting the text up for voting.
Social Democrats, including MEP Vivien Costanzo, have also advocated for giving manufacturers some additional time, without abandoning the goal of electrification. “We want to give the automotive industry more time, but without questioning the goal of Europe leading in zero-emission vehicles,” she said. According to Costanzo, manufacturers who wish to compete in markets such as Asia or Canada will need to continue electrifying their product lines.
The final decision still has to wait
The postponed vote in the Transport Committee alone will not determine the future of this regulation. Three committees of the European Parliament must establish their positions in the coming weeks, after which the plenary session will vote on the text. The community documents currently schedule a plenary vote for November 2026.
Manufacturers are facing increasing international competition, especially from China, while bearing high industrial and energy costs and losing ground in some strategic markets. In Germany, reduced utilization of certain factories and job cuts have also increased political pressure to change the targets.
For now, the so-called 'end of internal combustion engines by 2035' has not been removed. What is on the table is a substantial modification of current rules that could allow different internal combustion engine technologies to continue being sold after that date. Lack of agreement in the European Parliament has now forced a delay in one of the first important votes to determine exactly how much those rules will change.
