Overview
- Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez wrote to Ursula von der Leyen urging the EU to keep the 2035 end date for new combustion‑engine sales and to avoid new relaxations.
- Bloomberg and other outlets report the Commission is preparing a plan that shifts the effective end of combustion engines to 2040, limited to plug‑in hybrids and range‑extended vehicles using e‑fuels and green steel.
- Manfred Weber said the EU will move from a technological ban to a 90% fleet CO₂ reduction target from 2035, a claim the Commission has not confirmed.
- The Commission’s announcement, initially expected on December 10, was pushed to next Tuesday and could slip further as negotiations continue.
- Member states remain split, with Spain and France defending the 2035 roadmap and Germany and Italy pressing for more leeway, while automakers and suppliers warn of factory risks and mounting competition from low‑cost Chinese EVs and new U.S. trade barriers.