In late November 2025, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Germany will formally ask the European Commission to reconsider the EU’s plan to fully ban new combustion-engine cars by 2035.
Rather than a hard cut-off, Merz advocates a more technology-neutral, flexible regulation — one that would allow hybrids, highly efficient ICEs, and other alternative drivetrain technologies to remain options beyond 2035.

According to Merz, the goal isn’t to reject electric mobility — Germany remains committed to the transition — but to avoid forcing the automotive industry into a “technological dead end.”

He argues that strict, single-technology mandates threaten Europe’s auto industry, which faces stiff global competition, high costs, and structural disruptions. A more flexible approach, in his view, would better preserve jobs and allow for innovation, including via synthetic fuels, hybrids or ultra-efficient ICEs.

🏭 Industry, Climate, and the Bigger Debate

The push by Germany underlines deep tensions at the heart of Europe’s climate strategy. Proponents of the 2035 ban say it’s vital to achieving emissions targets and transitioning away from fossil fuels. Delaying or loosening those rules, they warn, undermines ambitions to decarbonize transport and risks prolonging dependency on polluting vehicles.

But for many automakers — especially in Germany, where giants like Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes‑Benz have built decades of expertise around ICE technology — an abrupt ban represents a huge economic shock. They argue that the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) isn’t happening fast enough, charging infrastructure in many regions remains insufficient, and global competition (especially from lower-cost EV makers) threatens their survival.

Merz and his government seem to brazenly bet on a third path — one that embraces diverse technologies instead of picking just one. The proposal includes supporting plug-in hybrids, synthetic-fuel-ready ICEs, and other transitional technologies, as a compromise between climate goals and economic reality.

🚀 What This Debate Means — And What’s at Stake

This isn’t just about cars: it’s about the future of Europe’s auto industry, jobs, innovation, and how the bloc balances environmental ambition with economic realities. If the EU accepts Germany’s call for flexibility, we could see:

A slower, more gradual shift toward electrification — giving automakers and consumers more time to adapt.

Continued innovation in engine technology: efficient ICEs, hybrid systems, synthetic fuels, maybe even new fuels or drivetrain types.

More choice for consumers — EVs, hybrids, efficient ICEs — depending on their needs and budgets.

But critics warn that any softening may delay the transition to fully green mobility, make emission targets harder to reach, and perpetuate air-quality and climate-change risks.

Within the next few weeks, the EU is expected to respond: the bloc’s plans are under review, and the debate set off by Merz may force a rethinking of how to structure regulation — or reinforce the 2035 deadline.