Overview
- Draft plans reported by Reuters and POLITICO would allow up to 10% of new cars after 2035 to be non‑electric, including plug‑in hybrids and range extenders running on CO2‑neutral biofuels or synthetic fuels.
- The proposal ties those flexibilities to offsetting measures such as using low‑carbon steel and alternative fuels in production, introduces credit pooling between automakers, and creates extra credits for small affordable EVs subject to local‑content rules.
- The package also includes measures to grow electric share in corporate fleets, with company cars singled out given their large share of new registrations across Europe.
- Germany and Italy, backed by legacy automakers including Volkswagen and Stellantis, pushed for the shift, while EV makers and green groups warn it will weaken investment and leave Europe further behind Chinese competitors.
- The Commission is expected to unveil the plan on Tuesday, after which EU governments and the European Parliament must approve it, with capitals divided as France and Spain resist a rollback and Germany favors added flexibility; ACEA is also pressing to ease 2030 interim targets.