France and Spain are urging EU leaders to maintain the 2035 deadline for ending sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles, while calling for stronger industrial support to ensure the shift to zero-emission vehicles takes place within Europe, not outside it.
In a joint letter to Brussels, the two governments warned that reversing the 2035 target would jeopardize the EU’s legally binding goal of climate neutrality by 2050. They also rejected proposals to give plug-in hybrids a longer runway beyond 2035, a position backed by countries with major legacy ICE production, including Germany, Italy and Slovakia.
European automakers have already invested tens of billions of euros in electrification to meet compliance timelines. But China’s dominance in battery materials and components, and restrictions on exporting critical minerals, are intensifying cost pressures across the value chain.
France and Spain argue that this is pushing manufacturing and jobs offshore. To counter that, they’re asking Brussels to introduce “Made in Europe” incentives during the upcoming CO2 standards review, rewarding OEMs that build EVs and source components within the EU.
They’re also calling for flexibility in the 2030 and 2035 benchmarks so that progress is fairly tied to European production volumes. Under the current rules, zero-emission vehicles must reach 50–80% of new sales before the transition to 100% in 2035.
The European Commission has already signaled an accelerated review of the regulation, aiming to safeguard climate goals while preventing Europe from losing competitiveness. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the review will also assess the role of zero- and low-carbon fuels, including e-fuels and advanced biofuels, in the broader transition.
The message from Paris and Madrid is clear: the future of the EU automotive industry, and its circular economy, is electric. But policymakers are under growing pressure to ensure that future is built in Europe.
Source www.euronews.com
