Germany and France scrap plans to phase out conventional cars
Federal Chancellor Merz and President Macron plan to go further than previously expected with relaxing EU rules on new conventional cars from 2035. Merz said he was happy with the outcome.
Brussels (dpa) – Following lengthy negotiations, the two car-building nations of Germany and France have agreed joint proposals on the future of conventional and electric cars. The proposals are intended to allow the car industry to continue to sell new hybrid and internal combustion engine vehicles after 2035 without facing the risk of fines. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, “This puts an end to talk of the phase-out of conventional vehicles.” The agreement could make it possible to achieve a majority on the European Council. Merz noted that other countries had already reacted positively.
Germany and the automotive industry had long campaigned for a softening of the agreed plans to ban the sale of new vehicles with internal combustion engines. Until how, however, France and six other EU countries had sufficient votes to block a decision. Now France has changed sides.
Amongst other things, the German-French compromise would allow manufacturers to reduce their average emissions by only 90% from 2035, without having to offset the remaining 10%.
According to Germany’s Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, this would allow carmakers to “invest in electrical mobility and sites in Europe.”
