A ban on the sale of new ICE cars and vans after 2035 is included in the EU legislative initiative called “Fit for 55”, presented by the European Commission in July 2021. This package will allow the European Union to reduce direct greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
It took more than 16 hours of negotiations for environment ministers from 27 countries to reach an agreement at a meeting in Luxembourg on ways to combat climate change in the EU. Now a compromise must be reached with the European Parliament, which also wants to ban the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines from 2035.
It should be understood that the cessation of sales of new cars with internal combustion engines will not mean a ban on the use of previously purchased cars. Although the possibilities for refueling and maintenance, as well as the prospects for their further sale in the secondary market, are likely to deteriorate rapidly.
The situation is similar with the production of cars. Theoretically, European car manufacturers will be able to continue to produce cars with internal combustion engines in the EU in order to export products to countries with less stringent environmental legislation. However, the largest concerns are already rebuilding their European plants for the production of electric vehicles. It is much more likely that they will transfer the production of gasoline and diesel cars to their enterprises in those regions of the world where such vehicles will remain in demand.
The Fit for 55 package also decided to cut CO2 emissions by 55% for new cars and 50% for vans by the end of this decade. In addition, zero and low emission vehicle (ZLEV) incentives will end from 2030.
Source: European Union Consilium
