German Chancellor Calls on the EU to Amend the Ban on Combustion Engines

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that he will ask the European Union to make amendments to the planned ban on new cars equipped with combustion engines starting in 2035.

Merz stated, following consultations with the governing coalition committee on Friday, that he will request the European Commission to amend and revise the mobility rules "in a comprehensive sense."

Merz explained that the goal is to achieve a good balance between the competitiveness of the European automotive industry and the requirements imposed for climate protection, emphasizing that climate protection will not be undermined, but the goals should be achieved in a technology-open manner. He added that he will request permission for the use of dual-drive vehicles, which combine a battery and a combustion engine, alongside fully electric cars after 2035.

Merz stressed that the goal should be "an innovation-supporting and technology-open regulation" that reconciles climate protection with industrial competitiveness, noting that this will be the conclusion of his message to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The Chancellor expressed gratitude for reaching this position within the governing coalition, pointing out that it has been a "long road" for the Social Democratic Party.

For his part, the leader of the Social Democratic Party and Deputy Chancellor, Lars Klingbeil, stated that there is a need for more flexibility and more technological options.