The European Commission is signaling a potential shift in its ambitious climate agenda, opening the door for continued internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle production beyond 2035. This policy re-evaluation, detailed in an upcoming “Auto Package” represents a significant departure from the Commission’s previously unwavering commitment to a complete phase-out of gasoline and diesel vehicles.
Several high-ranking officials confirmed to “Handelsblatt” that the revision hinges on the incorporation of “highly efficient” ICE vehicles, a direct response to pressure exerted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who formally requested the alteration in a letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The letter, reportedly “very positively received” underscores Berlin’s persistent lobbying efforts to preserve a key sector of the German economy.
Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, in a statement to “Handelsblatt”, explicitly stated the Commission’s willingness to consider all technologies, seemingly retracting the implied prohibition on traditional ICE vehicles. This includes exploring the potential of synthetic fuels, known as e-fuels and advanced biofuels, allowing vehicles powered by these alternatives to circumvent the original 2035 deadline.
Critics argue that this policy shift is a concession to powerful industry lobbies and risks undermining the EU’s climate targets. While supporters frame the move as a pragmatic compromise to ensure a “economically sustainable and socially fair” transition, concerns are being raised about the potential for ‘greenwashing’ through the utilization of e-fuels, a technology still in its infancy and facing questions regarding scalability and environmental impact.
The possibility of permitting ICE vehicles relying on alternative fuels raises crucial questions regarding the definition of “highly efficient” and the extent to which these fuels truly constitute a genuine reduction in emissions across their entire lifecycle, from production to combustion. This revised approach demands heightened scrutiny to prevent a weakening of the EU’s overall pledge for climate neutrality and to guarantee that technological advancements genuinely contribute to a cleaner transportation sector instead of merely delaying the inevitable transition to zero-emission vehicles. The implications for other member states committed to the original 2035 phase-out are also expected to be significant, potentially triggering renewed political tensions within the Union.