EU proposes ban on new fossil-fuel car sales from 2035

The EU on Wednesday proposed an effective ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars as of 2035, as part of a broader package of measures on climate change.

The European Commission proposed a 55% cut in CO2 emissions from cars by 2030 versus 2021 levels.

And then a 100% cut by 2035, which would make it impossible to sell new fossil-fuel-powered vehicles in the bloc.

To boost EV sales, Brussels also proposed legislation that would require countries to install public charging points along major roads by 2025.

The Commission proposals will need to be negotiated and approved by EU member states and the European Parliament, which could take around two years.

Low-emission vehicle sales surged in Europe last year, with one in every nine new cars sold an electric or plug-in hybrid.

Full electrification is still a long way off, though.

Many carmakers have announced investments in electrification, partly in anticipation of tougher emissions targets from the EU.

Last month, Volkswagen said it would stop selling cars with combustion engines in Europe by 2035, but later in China and the U.S., as part of its shift to electric vehicles.

And last week, Stellantis said it would invest more than $35 billion by 2025 on electrifying its line-up.