The EU's New EV Law — No New Gas and Diesel Vehicles on Car Lots by 2035

EU car dealerships will be EV-only by 2035.

The European Parliament and Council called it a (late) night on Thursday with the provisional agreement on the “Fit for 55” package. The package is designed to help the EU meet its climate goals — mainly hitting climate neutrality by 2050 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030.

Part of the Fit for 55 package bans the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars and vans by 2035. The ban has expected targets for manufacturers to help them phase into the transition, but by manufacturing timelines, it’s still ambitious. Small and niche manufacturers, producing fewer than 10,000 cars or 22,000 vans annually, will be the last ones required to hit the 2035 deadline. The proposal is unlikely to see big changes before getting formal approval, which means the auto industry is reacting to Thursday’s decision as a done deal.

Auto manufacturers say they’re ready to meet the milestones, according to Oliver Zipse, BMW CEO and European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) President. Instead, they have a different concern.

What’s the EU’s plan to make the EV-heavy market work?

"However, we are now keen to see the framework conditions which are essential to meet this target reflected in EU policies. These include an abundance of renewable energy, a seamless private and public charging infrastructure network, and access to raw materials.” — Zipse

The EU, manufacturers, and supporting industries (hey, that’s us!) will have a role to play in ensuring that consumers have access not only to environmentally-friendly vehicles but also to a system that makes driving one an even better experience.