• The EU climate commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, reaffirmed the EU’s 2035 ban on new CO2-emitting car sales, emphasizing commitment to climate goals despite industry pressure.
• Carmakers and some governments, including Italy and the Czech Republic, urged a review, citing challenges with electric vehicle sales and compliance.
• Hoekstra acknowledged industry concerns over infrastructure investments and noted that fears of steep fines for missing CO2 targets might be overstated.

The European Union’s climate commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, reiterated the EU’s commitment to ending sales of CO2-emitting cars by 2035 and enforcing stricter CO2 limits for carmakers next year. This comes in the wake of appeals from Italy and the Czech Republic, who argued that declining electric car sales put compliance with these targets at risk.

During a European Parliament hearing, Hoekstra reassured lawmakers that the climate regulations provide a stable environment for investments in the sector. He highlighted that many car company CEOs believe they can meet the established targets, though they are calling for significant public investment in charging infrastructure.

“And I think that is a fair ask,” Hoekstra stated.

Calls for Adjustments and Industry Feedback

The EU has already adjusted its 2035 deadline to permit the sale of e-fuel vehicles at Germany’s request. However, Hoekstra firmly ruled out renegotiating the current agreements to include biofuels, saying,

“What I cannot do… is to break open what we have agreed on in the domains of cars.”

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Automakers remain apprehensive, bracing for significant fines for potential non-compliance with next year’s stricter CO2 targets. Hoekstra, however, noted that past penalties, such as Volkswagen’s over 100 million euros for missing 2020 emissions targets, were not as severe as feared.

As Hoekstra seeks a new term as the EU’s climate commissioner, the European Parliament’s decision on his continued leadership is expected later this month.

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