EU 2035 car CO2 vote delayed: what the softer rules mean for UK
The EU committee vote on weakening its 2035 car target to a 90% cut has slipped by about two weeks. The UK still requires fully zero-emission new cars from 2035.
Quick answers
- The European Parliament's Transport Committee vote on the Auto Package, due on 5 October, has been postponed by about two weeks.
- The Commission proposed in December 2025 to replace the 100% CO2 cut by 2035 with a 90% cut against 2021, equal to a fleet level of 11g/km, with the remaining 10% to be offset using EU-made low-carbon steel, e-fuels or biofuels.
- A plenary vote is planned for November; the proposal is not law and could still change.
- The UK ZEV mandate still requires 80% of new car sales to be zero-emission by 2030 and 100% by 2035.
- Full hybrids and plug-in hybrids can be sold in the UK until 2035, after which only zero-emission cars are allowed.
The European Parliament’s Transport Committee has postponed its vote on the EU’s Auto Package, originally due on 5 October, by about two weeks, with a plenary vote planned for November (electrive). The package would soften the 2035 car target from a 100% to a 90% CO2 cut. It is a proposal, not law, and the UK’s own 2035 zero-emission requirement is unaffected.
What is the EU deciding?
The Commission presented the package on 16 December 2025, setting a fleet CO2 reduction of 90% against 2021 from 2035, equal to 11g/km, instead of zero (electrive). The remaining 10% would have to be compensated with EU-made low-carbon steel, e-fuels or biofuels (Euronews). The party groups that form the centre platform need more time to agree. The centre-right EPP wants to go further than the Commission, but has not yet found a majority with Social Democrats and Liberals (drweb.de). The package also proposes a small-car category in which EU-built electric cars up to 4.2 metres long would count as 1.3 vehicles towards a maker’s fleet target (Euronews). That credit is also only proposed.
EU and UK rules compared
| EU (proposed) | UK (in force) | |
|---|---|---|
| 2035 requirement | 90% CO2 cut against 2021 | 100% zero-emission new car sales |
| 2030 position | Proposed interim cuts of 55% for cars and 50% for vans | 80% zero-emission sales |
| Hybrids after 2035 | Room under a 11g/km fleet level | Not allowed |
| Status | Committee vote delayed, plenary due November | Law |
UK hybrid rules come from the ZEV mandate changes, under which full hybrids and plug-in hybrids may be sold from 2030 to 2035 (EV Infrastructure News). Our explainer on where the 2030 and 2035 rules stand covers the detail.
Could the gap hurt UK choice?
This is our judgement. If the EU softens its target, carmakers there face less pressure to push EVs, and some could favour hybrids in Europe. The UK is a separate market with its own mandate, so makers still have to hit UK targets. The challenge is real: carmakers need 265,000 extra EV sales by December to meet this year’s UK target, which is why discounts have been appearing. A softer EU might leave fewer shared-platform EVs built in volume, but nothing announced supports that yet. For the latest market figures, see our report on global EV sales in August 2026.
Why the UK position matters for buyers
The UK approach is simpler. The ZEV mandate sets the share of each maker’s sales that must be zero-emission, with 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2035. Between 2030 and 2035 full hybrids and plug-in hybrids can still be sold (EV Infrastructure News). For a driver buying a new car today, that means a petrol-only model would be a poor long-term bet in Britain regardless of what Brussels decides.
The EU change matters more for used values and for model planning. A car sold new in the EU after 2035 could still have a combustion engine if the 90% target passes, which gives makers a reason to keep hybrid platforms alive. Whether that reduces the range of EVs offered to UK buyers is something to watch, not something any maker has said.
What happens next?
The committee vote has been pushed back by about two weeks, and a plenary vote is planned for November. Member states must also agree, so the 90% figure could still change, in either direction. The UK mandate has its own review, covered in ZEV mandate: 2030 EV target could fall to 50% as review closes.
What this means for you
Nothing changes for UK buyers today, and the EU decision is still pending. If you plan to buy a new car before 2030, the ZEV mandate explainer shows why EV deals remain strong, and the Electric Car Grant guide shows what discounts apply. Weigh hybrid vs full electric on your own mileage rather than on Brussels headlines.
How we test and where our numbers come from
Range figures are official WLTP combined values taken from manufacturer UK specification pages, with real-world estimates drawn from independent comparative testing. Prices are UK list prices at the time of the latest update. Tax, grant and charging-scheme figures come from GOV.UK and HMRC publications. We re-check every guide when pricing, specification or policy changes. Last checked 6 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Has the EU scrapped its 2035 petrol and diesel ban?
Not yet. The Commission has proposed a 90% CO2 cut by 2035 instead of 100%, but Parliament and member states have not agreed it. The committee vote has been postponed by about two weeks, with a plenary vote planned for November.
Why was the vote postponed?
Electrive reports that the parties of the so-called centre platform need more time to reach an agreement. The centre-right EPP wants to loosen the rules further than the Commission, and a majority with Social Democrats and Liberals is not secured.
Does this change the UK ban on new petrol and diesel cars?
No. The UK ZEV mandate targets are unchanged: 80% zero-emission by 2030 and 100% by 2035, with full hybrids and plug-in hybrids allowed between 2030 and 2035.
Will UK car choice change because of the EU rules?
Not directly. Carmakers could shift emphasis toward hybrids in the EU if the softer target passes, but no manufacturer has announced reduced UK EV supply.
Sources and further reading
- electrive.comelectrivePrimary source referenced in this article.
- drweb.deVerbrenner-Aus: Warum vertagt die EU die Abstimmung?The EPP position and the uncertain majority.
- electrive.netEU-Kommission weicht CO2-Ziele aufThe Commission's December 2025 proposal.
- evinfrastructurenews.comZEV mandate will allow hybrids to be sold until 2035UK hybrid rules between 2030 and 2035.
EV Compared
The EV Compared editorial team tracks the UK electric vehicle market full time: new model launches, list prices, WLTP and real-world range, public charging tariffs and the tax rules that decide what an EV actually costs to run. Every guide is checked against manufacturer specifications and official GOV.UK figures, and updated whenever the numbers move.
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