Geraldine Herbert Explains the EU's Evolving 2035 Carbon-Free Car Plan

Q What was the original EU 2035 plan for new cars? A From 2035, new cars and vans sold in the EU would have to produce zero CO₂ emissions so in reality, that meant no new petrol, diesel or hybrid cars could be sold after that date. Cars typically stay on the road for around 15 years, so stopping new fossil-fuel sales by 2035 was seen as the only way to ensure Europe’s car fleet was largely carbon-free by 2050. Q So what’s changed and why? A Instead of a full ban, carmakers are now required to cut average emissions by about 90pc. This effectively means that a limited number of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars can continue beyond 2035 though exactly how many, and for how long, is still unclear. Several EU governments and major car manufacturers had lobbied for this change, arguing that EV demand has grown more slowly than hoped, charging infrastructure is patchy and competition from heavily subsidised Chinese EV brands has intensified. Q Who pushed hardest for the rollback? A Germany and Italy, backed by Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, were key opposition voices and their argument was that a hard ban was too rigid, too risky and potentially disastrous for jobs. Europe’s car industry agreed and the auto lobby, ACEA, alongside brands such as Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes‑Benz, Stellantis and Renault, called for a slower pace of change. Q What does this mean for electric car sales in Europe and Ireland? A The impact is likely to be continued uncertainty. Car manufacturers may rethink EV investments, consumers could delay purchases, and plug-in hybrids are likely to be the biggest beneficiaries. Over the medium term, EVs are still expected to grow their market share but more slowly. That’s a challenge for countries like Ireland, where the growth in electric cars is one of the most significant strategies to reduce transport emissions. To contact Geraldine Herbert, email: sundaymotors@independent.ie