Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni has joined German chancellor Friderich Merz in urging the EU to scrap its planned 2035 ban on new petrol cars, calling instead for a softer deadline that would allow the continued sale of plug-in hybrids.
In a letter co-signed by the leaders of Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria, Meloni argues that an outright cut-off would risk devastating Europe’s car industry, which is already under heavy pressure from cheaper Chinese electric vehicles.
“There is nothing green about an industrial wasteland,” the letter warns.
The European Commission is due to give its position on Wednesday. The 2035 phase-out was introduced only three years ago, leaving manufacturers limited time to retool for full electrification. The Commission has already hinted at openness to revising the timeline after receiving Merz’s earlier letter calling for more flexibility.
Any retreat from the 2035 target is fiercely opposed by the Greens, who say it would amount to “gutting” the EU’s Green Deal. They have the backing of Swedish carmakers Volvo and Polestar, as well as companies in the EV charging sector.
Meloni and her co-signatories are asking Brussels to ensure that plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), fuel-cell vehicles, and range-extender EVs (ERVs) can continue to be sold beyond 2035 as part of a more gradual transition.
