Parts of the industry and the EU are calling for changes to the planned phase-out of combustion engines by 2035. Studies show: This would drive up CO₂ emissions in the EU because there are currently no "open-technology" alternatives.
By Bernhard Pötter and Lukas Knigge
The Commission President is resisting calls to soften the climate targets. She announced new initiatives for affordable electric cars, the steel industry and the energy infrastructure.
By Lukas Knigge, Janos Allenbach-Ammann and Manuel Berkel
At the IAA, the chancellor is questioning the decision to phase out combustion engines from 2035 – and is thus seeking conflict with his coalition partner. Commission President von der Leyen is meeting with CEOs from the automotive industry on Friday.
By Lukas Knigge and Markus Grabitz
At the start of the IAA motor show, Mercedes boss Källenius and Bavaria's Minister President Söder are calling for the ban on new combustion engines to be weakened from 2035. The SPD is calling for better support for electric cars.
By Lukas Knigge, Julia Fiedler and Markus Grabitz
Mercedes boss Ola Källenius explains how he wants to assert himself in the highly competitive Chinese market. And why he believes that the end of the combustion engine by 2035 is hardly feasible.
By Julia Fiedler
"Combustion engine ban" refers to the plans of some countries and regions to ban the sale of new vehicles with combustion engines in the near future in order to reduce CO₂ emissions in the transport sector and achieve climate targets. In 2021, the EU decided to ban the sale of new vehicles with combustion engines by 2035. The switch to more climate-friendly drive systems such as electric vehicles, hydrogen or synthetic fuels is to be accelerated. However, phasing out combustion engines is controversial and has both supporters and critics. In this context, the effects of phasing out the combustion engine on the automotive industry, infrastructure and energy grids are being discussed. The challenges for the extraction and processing of raw materials and possible shifts in emissions are also discussed. What is the EU combustion engine phase-out? The EU combustion phase-out refers to the European Union's (EU) plan to ban the sale of new vehicles with combustion engines. In concrete terms, this means that from a certain date, new cars powered by petrol or diesel will no longer be allowed to be sold. The exact timetables and targets for phasing out the combustion engine vary depending on the EU country and political decision-makers. Some countries have already announced plans to ban the sale of new vehicles with combustion engines from 2030 or 2035, while others do not yet have any concrete plans. The aim of the ban on combustion engines is to reduce CO₂ emissions and accelerate the transition to more climate-friendly vehicles, particularly electric vehicles. It is part of the EU's strategy to combat climate change and achieve the ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement. What is the aim of the EU Combustion Exit Plan? The aim of the Combustion Exit Plan is to reduce CO₂ emissions in the transport sector and accelerate the transition to more climate-friendly vehicles, in particular electric vehicles. The transport sector is a major emitter of greenhouse gases and the use of vehicles with internal combustion engines contributes significantly to climate change. A ban on the sale of new vehicles with combustion engines is intended to promote the use of electric vehicles and other more climate-friendly drive systems. Electric vehicles have significantly lower CO₂ emissions than vehicles with combustion engines and can therefore make an important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector. In addition, the abandonment of combustion engines should help to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote the development and use of renewable energies. The switch to more climate-friendly vehicles should also create new jobs in the field of renewable energies and electromobility. How is the combustion engine phase-out plan intended to reform the transport sector? The Combustion Exit Plan aims to reform the transport sector by accelerating the transition to more climate-friendly powertrains and reducing CO₂ emissions in the transport sector. Below are some of the most important measures with which the plan aims to achieve these goals: Overall, the Combustion Exit Plan aims to help make the transport sector more sustainable and climate-friendly. Not only the vehicles themselves, but also the infrastructure and people's mobility behavior play an important role in this. What criticism is there of phasing out combustion engines? There are a number of criticisms of the phase-out of the combustion engine, particularly from the automotive industry and some political parties and associations who have concerns about the feasibility and impact of the plan. Here are some of the main criticisms: Overall, phasing out the internal combustion engine is a controversial topic on which there are differing viewpoints and opinions. The implementation of the plan requires careful consideration of the various interests and concerns in order to achieve the CO₂ reduction targets in the transport sector.
