EU Panel Weakens 2035 Car CO2 Targets
A European Parliament committee voted to ease carbon reduction goals for cars and vans, while the UK considers relaxing its electric vehicle sales requirements.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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The European Parliament's Environment Committee voted to lower the 2035 CO2 reduction target for cars from 90 percent to 87.5 percent against 2021 levels, and to 80 percent for vans. The UK government is also considering easing its ZEV Mandate sales targets for electric vehicles.
Why it matters
The changes would allow a small share of hybrid, petrol and diesel cars to continue to be sold beyond 2035, widening options for drivers who cannot switch to electric vehicles. Carmakers lobbied for relief amid high battery costs and competition from cheaper Chinese rivals.
The 2035 car target was cut by 2.5 percentage points and the van target now stands at 80 percent, while UK EV sales must rise from 33 percent this year to 80 percent by 2030 under the current ZEV Mandate. The UK consultation explored a 2030 target as low as 50 percent, and no final figure has been set.
The players
European Parliament Environment Committee
The parliamentary committee responsible for environmental legislation in the European Union, which voted to weaken the 2035 emissions targets for cars and vans.
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
The main trade body representing the UK automotive industry, which says manufacturers are spending billions on discounts and incentives to meet EV quotas.
Department for Transport
The UK government department overseeing transport policy, which has proposed reconsidering the role of plug-in hybrid vehicles in the ZEV Mandate.
The details
Under the committee's revised proposal, manufacturers would earn super-credits for small electric cars built in Europe. The Department for Transport has also proposed reconsidering the role of plug-in hybrid vehicles, and the UK ban on new pure petrol and diesel cars from 2030 remains in place.
Timeline
November 6, 2026: The European Parliament's Environment Committee voted to lower the EU's 2035 CO2 targets.
October 2026: The UK ZEV Mandate consultation closed.
2030: The UK ban on new pure petrol and diesel cars is scheduled to take effect.
2035: The original EU phase-out of combustion-engine vehicles would have applied.
Early 2027: The UK government has promised a response on the ZEV Mandate review.
Roadmap
The EU's original plan required all combustion-engine vehicles to be phased out from 2035, and the committee's vote marks a clear retreat from that timeline. The shift reflects a broader industry struggle to meet electric vehicle mandates while battery costs remain high and cheaper Chinese competitors gain ground.
If the EU formally adopts the revised rules, drivers who cannot switch to electric vehicles would keep more options for buying new cars after 2035. Any future changes to UK sales targets could affect which models dealers stock and the incentives available to buyers.
The takeaway
Buyers planning a car purchase in the coming years should watch the final EU vote and the UK government's 2027 response, since either could change which vehicles remain available. Keeping an eye on these decisions helps time a purchase around shifts in incentives and model availability.
What happens next
The UK government has promised a response on the ZEV Mandate review no later than early 2027, and the EU proposal must still be formally adopted before it takes effect.
Further reading
For more on the shifting rules for battery-powered cars, see the Electric Vehicles section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mail Online.
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