In brief
In a significant policy shift, the European Union has amended its 2035 target to ban new petrol and diesel vehicle sales. Instead of a 100% zero-emission mandate, the new strategy permits 90% of sales to be zero-emission vehicles, with the remaining 10% including hybrids and conventional cars. This change comes amid heavy lobbying from car manufacturers, primarily in Germany, which argues that current electric vehicle demand is insufficient. Critics warn this move may hinder the transition to electric vehicles in Europe.
The European Union has watered down its plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035.
Current rules state that new vehicles sold from that date should be zero emission, but carmakers, particularly in Germany, have lobbied heavily for concessions.
Under the European Commission's new plan, 90% of new cars sold from 2035 would have to be zero-emission, rather than 100%.
According to the European carmakers association, ACEA, market demand for electric cars is currently too low, and without a change to the rules, manufacturers would risk multi-billion euro penalties.
The remaining 10% could be made up of conventional petrol or diesel cars, along with hybrids.
Carmakers will be expected to compensate for the extra emissions created by these vehicles by using biofuels and so-called e-fuels, which are synthesised from captured carbon dioxide.
They will also be expected to use low-carbon steel made in the European Union in the vehicles they produce.
Opponents of the move have warned that it risks undermining the transition towards electric vehicles and leaving Europe exposed in the face of foreign competition.
The green transport group T&E has warned that the UK should not follow the EU's lead by weakening its own plans to phase out the sale of conventional cars under the Zero Emission Vehicles Mandate.
The UK must stand firm. Our ZEV mandate is already driving jobs, investment and innovation into the UK. As major exporters we cannot compete unless we innovate, and global markets are going electric fast, said T&E UK's director Anna Krajinska.
