For a moment it looked like the combustion engine might get a stay of execution in Europe. But lawmakers have voted to stick with draconian emissions reduction targets that effectively means the end of ICE vehicles on the continent by 2035.
Members of the European Parliament were asked to vote on an amendment that would have meant carmakers are required to cut emissions by 90 percent by 2035, rather than the 100 percent previously agreed. Bloomberg reports that lawmakers from the conservative European People’s Party, plus other groups on the right wanted to water down the target because they are concerned about job losses in the automotive sector.
But MPs voted to put Europe’s climate goals ahead of jobs, upholding the 100 percent reduction and effectively signing the combustion engine’s death warrant. The 2035 target isn’t yet law, but this decision cements the EU’s position, which will be used in talks with individual European Union member states later this year to create the law.
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Ford signed a petition demanding the 100 percent emission reduction agreement be upheld
The decision will make it impossible to sell new combustion engined cars in Europe after 2035, barring some miraculous legal turnaround in the next 10 years. And in a further blow for automakers, EU MPs also voted against an amendment that would allow them to buy credits for synthetic fuels, a scheme some companies had hoped would extend the life of the combustion engine.
Many carmakers, including Ford, Mini, Bentley, Jaguar, Alfa Romeo and Volvo have already committed to sell only electric vehicles by 2035, and in some cases will meet that target with years to spare. Ford and Volvo were among 28 companies to sign a petition insisting the EU enshrine the 100 percent emissions reduction as law, but not every carmaker has been so enthusiastic. Renault was in favor of softening the legislation to help keep hybrid powertrains on the table, and the Italian government has called for small, exclusive brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini to be granted an exemption.