EU Reaffirms 2035 ICE Phaseout Plan - CleanTechnica

The European Union has reaffirmed its plan to phase out combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2035 despite persistent lobbying from European automakers seeking to relax the policy. Industry leaders, including Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius and European Automobile Manufacturers Association president Matthias Zink, argue that new geopolitical and industrial challenges—such as China’s dominance in the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain and US trade barriers—make the 2035 CO2 targets unrealistic. They urge the European Commission to reconsider the timeline and allow more regulatory flexibility, including continued support for hybrids and alternative technologies beyond 2035. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz echoed these calls for flexibility during the Munich auto show, emphasizing the need for a pragmatic approach to the transition to electric mobility. However, EU policymakers and environmental groups maintain that the 2035 ban is crucial for meeting climate goals, pointing to rising EV sales and increasing European battery production, even though much of the EV manufacturing and battery supply remains linked to China. The ban, narrowly