Overview

• Chancellor Friedrich Merz said there must not be a “brutal rupture” at the end of 2035 and reiterated that electric drivetrains remain the primary pathway.
• Automakers, suppliers, unions and regional leaders gathered in Berlin, with BMW, Mercedes‑Benz and Volkswagen stepping up public pressure for regulatory leeway.
• Industry representatives are requesting EU exceptions for alternative fuels, including biofuels and synthetic e‑fuels, to keep some combustion models viable beyond 2035.
• EU leaders are set to take up the issue at a European Council meeting in Brussels in about two weeks, and the European Commission plans to revisit the timeline next year.
• Germany points to falling profits, plant closures and roughly 50,000 subcontractor job losses, citing competition from Chinese EVs and gaps in charging infrastructure.