Overview
- Manfred Weber, who leads the European People’s Party, said Brussels will replace a 100% cutoff with a 90% fleet CO2 reduction requirement from 2035, removing a strict technology ban on combustion engines.
- He added there will be no 100% target in 2040, signaling ongoing room for hybrids, efficient ICE models and alternative-fuel technologies.
- The reported shift contradicts earlier claims that the EU would simply delay the cutoff to 2040, as first suggested by The Times.
- The Commission has confirmed it will disclose the updated package on 16 December, with separate changes expected to how plug‑in hybrid fuel economy and emissions are calculated.
- Automakers including Volkswagen, Mercedes‑Benz, BMW, Renault and Stellantis, along with a six‑nation bloc, pushed for softer rules, and UK industry figures say Britain may need to reassess its own timelines given deep market links.