The European Union is abandoning its radical 2035 ban on new internal combustion engine cars, delivering a stunning victory for economic common sense and preserving tens of thousands of jobs across the continent. This major policy reversal replaces the mandatory 100% zero-emission requirement with a 90% CO2 emissions reduction target, effectively ending the ‘technology ban’ that threatened to cripple European manufacturers and hand market dominance to Chinese EV competitors. The decision comes after intense industry lobbying and signals a definitive shift away from an ideological green agenda toward economic reality and worker welfare.
Story Highlights
- EU scraps 2035 ICE ban, replacing 100% emissions cut with 90% target.
- Manfred Weber confirms “technology ban on combustion engines is off the table”.
- Tens of thousands of automotive jobs preserved across Europe.
- Major victory against globalist green agenda threatening industrial competitiveness.
Major Policy Reversal Protects European Jobs
Manfred Weber, president of the European Parliament’s largest party, announced that the EU has scrapped its planned 2035 ban on new internal combustion engine car sales. Speaking to German newspaper Bild, Weber confirmed manufacturers will now face a 90% CO2 emissions reduction target instead of the previously mandated 100% zero-emission requirement. This policy shift represents a complete abandonment of the globalist green agenda that threatened to destroy European automotive manufacturing while handing market dominance to Chinese competitors.
EU Drops 2035 Combustion Engine Ban CO2 targets.
Automakers continue producing current engines that meet 90% emissions. Change, pushed by Germany Italy Poland amid slow EV Sales & Chinese competition, millions of Auto Jobs protected. #Petrol #Diesel #Cars https://t.co/4y3DcPtlbv— ec●Politics 🇬🇧 🏴 (@ecPolitics_j) December 12, 2025
Industry Lobbying Defeats Climate Extremism
The reversal comes after intense lobbying from major European manufacturers including Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Stellantis, who recognized the economic devastation the ban would cause. These companies understood what green extremists refused to acknowledge: forcing an immediate transition to electric vehicles would cripple European competitiveness while enriching Chinese EV manufacturers. The original 2021 legislation was part of the European Green Deal’s unrealistic push for climate neutrality by 2050, ignoring economic realities and worker welfare.
Sustainable Fuels and Hybrids Remain Viable
Weber emphasized that the “technology ban on combustion engines is off the table,” allowing manufacturers to continue producing vehicles with internal combustion engines using sustainable fuels or hybrid technology. This practical approach recognizes that plug-in hybrids can achieve 600-kilometer ranges while maintaining ICE backup systems. The EU Transport Commissioner had previously advocated for sustainable fuels to keep post-2035 ICE vehicles viable, providing a realistic alternative to the left’s forced EV mandate that ignored infrastructure limitations and consumer preferences.
Victory Against Chinese Market Domination
This policy reversal protects European industry from falling completely under Chinese control in the automotive sector. The original ban would have forced European manufacturers to compete directly with Chinese EV dominance while abandoning their technological advantages in combustion engine manufacturing. By preserving ICE technology alongside emissions reduction goals, European companies can maintain their competitive edge and protect worker livelihoods. The decision sends a clear signal that Europe will not sacrifice its industrial base on the altar of climate extremism, choosing economic sovereignty over globalist environmental mandates.
An official EU announcement is expected on December 16, 2025, confirming this major retreat from the failed green agenda that prioritized ideology over economic reality and worker welfare.
Watch the report: EU to replace 2035 combustion engine ban with emissions target – Byte News Daily
Sources:
- EU’s 2035 petrol and diesel car ban will be watered down, says senior MEP | Automotive industry | The Guardian
- EU to scrap planned ban on combustion engines, EPP’s Weber says | Reuters
- The EU apparently wants to axe the 2035 ban on selling combustion-engined cars | Top Gear
