The European Union has modified its plan concerning the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles, originally slated for 2035. The initial regulations mandated that all new vehicles sold from 2035 onwards must be "zero emission".
Automobile manufacturers, notably those based in Germany, advocated for adjustments to these regulations. In response, the European Commission has introduced a revised proposal.
Under this new plan, 90% of new cars sold starting in 2035 will be required to be zero-emission. This constitutes a change from the previously established 100% zero-emission target.
According to the European carmakers association (ACEA), current market demand for electric vehicles is deemed too low. The ACEA has stated that, without this regulatory modification, manufacturers faced the potential for "multi-billion euro" penalties.