EU 2035 combustion engine phase-out target faces united EV industry push

EV

The EU 2035 combustion engine phase-out target is now defended by Europe’s leading EV manufacturers. Over 150 e-mobility firms urge Brussels to stand firm and protect the zero-emission deadline. Therefore the EU 2035 combustion engine phase-out target has become a symbol of industrial credibility and climate ambition.

Industry leaders argue that policy stability underpins Europe’s EV investment, jobs and charging infrastructure expansion. They highlight hundreds of billions of euros already committed across the electric vehicle value chain. As a result, they warn that political backtracking would undermine investor confidence and weaken Europe’s green industrial strategy.

Investment, jobs and the EU 2035 combustion engine phase-out target

The EU 2035 combustion engine phase-out target gives manufacturers a clear roadmap for capital deployment. Signatories point to over 150,000 new jobs created in gigafactories, retooled car plants and charging networks. Meanwhile, they stress that skills, grid resilience and supply chains already adapt to this long-term regulatory signal.

These commitments stretch from battery gigafactories in France and Germany to upgraded plants in Slovakia and Belgium. Therefore any delay to the EU 2035 combustion engine phase-out target would freeze project pipelines and defer hiring plans. The letter argues that such hesitation would reward more aggressive global competitors, particularly Chinese EV and battery makers.

Policy flexibility, global competition and EV demand momentum

The European Commission has already proposed short term flexibility on CO2 targets between 2025 and 2027. However, climate officials insist that the 2035 zero-emission goal for new cars and vans remains intact. This combination seeks to ease the transition while preserving long term certainty for investors and suppliers.

Market data shows that electric mobility continues to expand despite policy debate. Battery electric vehicle registrations in Europe rose by 34pc year on year in early 2025. As a result, industry leaders argue that weakening the trajectory now would waste hard won demand momentum.

The letter further warns that relaxing the deadline would “permanently hand the advantage” to global rivals. Europe’s EV champions see the 2035 target as a competitive anchor against heavily supported Chinese manufacturers. Therefore, they urge Brussels to pair regulatory certainty with bolder support for localized batteries, components and charging infrastructure.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The industry’s defence of the EU 2035 combustion engine phase-out target highlights how deeply capital is now locked into electrification. For metals, batteries and charging players, regulatory wobble is a larger risk than short term demand volatility. If the EU holds course while sharpening implementation tools, Europe can still shape the global EV race rather than react to it.