Overview

• In a TV interview, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the EU’s “combustion ban” for new cars should not stand “in this form” and signaled he will lobby for changes in Brussels.
• Environment Minister Carsten Schneider rejected any rollback, noting current EU law requires zero‑CO2 new cars from 2035 or fines for manufacturers.
• Schneider met separately with works councils and major suppliers ahead of Thursday’s chancellery auto summit, a move the Union criticized as political maneuvering.
• The Thursday meeting will gather federal ministers, Länder, automakers, the VDA’s Hildegard Müller, and unions including IG Metall to discuss competitiveness and the transition.
• CSU leader Markus Söder urged a “clear end to the end of combustion,” while industry voices called for “technology openness” and labor pressed for an EV ramp‑up with targeted flexibilities.