Lobbying from European Union members causes rollback on bid to ban petrol, diesel and hybrid carsQ What was the original EU 2035 plan for new cars? A From 2035, new cars and vans sold in the EU would have to produce zero CO₂ emissions so in reality, that meant no new petrol, diesel or hybrid cars could be sold after that date. This effectively means that a limited number of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars can continue beyond 2035 though exactly how many, and for how long, is still unclear. Car manufacturers may rethink EV investments, consumers could delay purchases, and plug-in hybrids are likely to be the biggest beneficiaries. That’s a challenge for countries like Ireland, where the growth in electric cars is one of the most significant strategies to reduce transport emissions.

Source: Irish Independent January 18, 2026 13:03 UTC