EU Suggests Date For The End Of Combustion-Powered Cars, SUVs

European Commission President

Ursula von der Leyen has admitted for the first time that the European Union’s administrative body will give its automakers a stop-sale date for internal-combustion power in Europe.

The move, which is will effectively mandate electric-vehicle (EV) and hydrogen fuel-cell (FCEV) power in Europe, is likely to be between 2030 and 2035.

A range of European automakers, from Bentley to Jaguar Land Rover, have already announced they will switch to full EV power before any proposed cut-off date comes into effect.

In an interview with Germany’s Sueddeutsche Zeitung, von der Leyen insisted the EC would set a cut-off date to switch to zero CO2 emissions, but would leave the technology up to automakers.

“We will still set out an end date after which all cars will have to be emissions free,” von der Leyen said.

“Otherwise there will be a lack of certainty and we won’t achieve our goal of climate neutrality by 2050.

“How they change their production is up to the manufacturers,” she said.

“They know best how to develop new cars or new fuels.”

Another German publication, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, reported this week that the EC would slash automotive CO2 emissions to zero by 2035, but von der Leyen wouldn’t be drawn on a date.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung insisted the EC emissions target will be tightened to 55% of current CO2 emissions by 2030 compared to the current official glide path of 37.5%.