2035 European Union combustion engine ban meets resistance

The European Union is still on track to ban the sale of new comustion engine vehicles by 2035, but the move is being met by resistence.

As first reported by Reuters through Automotive News Europe, an alliance of five countries – Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania – will move to delay the proposed ban from its planned starting date of 2035 to 2040.

While the Italian Government has previously been vocal in its support of local manufacturers who rely on sales of combustion engine vehicles, the remaining four countries have so far been quiet on the issue, now throwing their support behind reduced emissions targets.

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Rather than the 100 per cent reduction in emissions for passenger vehicles by 2035, the proposal suggests the 2035 target should be 90 per cent before going to a total cut in 2040.

Likewise with light commercial vehicles, the blanket ban of internal combustion engines by 2035 has also been pushed back to 2040, with a target of 80 per cent less emissions compared to 1990 levels by 2035.

The EU's push for a 2035 cut-off is influenced by the 15-year average lifespan of a new car, with a majority of cars sold by the middle of next decade potentially being off the road by the time the 2050 net zero emissions target comes into play.