Key Facts
• The European Commission announced a revision to its 2035 gasoline vehicle sales ban.
• Original policy aimed to achieve zero CO2 emissions from vehicles by 2035.
• The policy included banning new gasoline, diesel, and hybrid vehicle sales.
• On December 16, 2025, the Commission announced the policy review.
• Reasons include slow electric vehicle (EV) adoption and automaker requests from Germany and Italy.
• New policy allows gasoline and hybrid vehicle sales if emissions are reduced by 90% post-2035.
• Automakers must meet strict emission reduction targets to qualify.
Summary
The European Commission has revised its policy to ban new gasoline and diesel vehicle sales by 2035. Initially aimed at achieving zero CO2 emissions, the policy faced challenges due to slow EV adoption and lobbying from automakers in Germany and Italy. Under the updated plan, automakers can continue selling gasoline and hybrid vehicles post-2035 if they achieve a 90% reduction in emissions. This adjustment reflects the EU’s effort to balance environmental goals with industry concerns.
