EU nears third EV rule rollback in two years — SkimNews
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- France and Germany struck a deal to back each other's proposals to loosen EU car rules, with France flipping from opposition to support; six other countries had previously opposed weakening the rules
- The proposal would cut required emissions reductions from 90% to 80% and further weaken interim targets, to be presented to the EU on October 15
- This would mark the third EU rollback in roughly two years — March 2025 gave automakers "breathing room," and nine months later the bloc dropped to a 90% reduction target further watered down by e-fuel credits
- Chinese EVs are gaining market share in Europe as Chinese automakers build cheaper and better models while European companies cancel EV models
- The EU is pressing the UK to impose tariffs on Chinese EVs as a condition for joining the "Buy European" agreement, even though UK EVs are already cheaper than gas cars there
- The EU's original 2021 plan set a target to phase out new gas car sales by 2035, paired with a 55% emissions reduction goal by 2030 and full climate neutrality by 2050
Why it matters: With France flipping its vote and six other countries on record opposing, the political coalition for weakening has shifted — but the source contends the industrial consequence is straightforward: every rollback cedes more European EV market share to Chinese competitors who are not waiting on Brussels. The October 15 vote will determine whether the 2035 phase-out survives as anything more than a talking point.
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