Germany wants the EU to relax tough CO2 rules for cars. The country seeks more room for plug-in hybrids and efficient engines. This comes ahead of a key EU review on December 10, 2025.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz wrote to EU leaders last week, calling the 2035 ban on combustion engines too strict. He pointed out that slow EV sales and competition from China are hurting European carmakers.
Stellantis CEO supports Germany’s plan. The company says flexibility will help meet targets and save jobs. Germany’s VDA auto lobby calls it good news for workers.
EU targets demand near-zero CO2 from new cars by 2035. Germany, on the other hand, pushes for “highly efficient” engines and hybrids as a compromise. The EU Commission shows some openness to changes and will reveal its proposals soon. However, there is no final deal yet.
