EU's Lifting of Fuel Embargo Announced
The automotive industry is grappling with a series of challenges, including a potential EU ban on new cars with internal combustion engines, scheduled for 2035. Amidst these trials, a ten-point plan, allegedly drafted by a German party leader to resist this EU-wide ban, has been the talk of the town. However, as of September 17, 2025, this plan remains unconfirmed and unpublished.
The International Automobile Exhibition (IAA) Mobility in Munich, set for September 2025, is shaping up to be a significant event in the world of automotive and digitalisation. It is not implausible that political figures, such as Vice Chancellor Christian Lindner (FDP) or representatives from the CDU/CSU, might initiate a move to reconsider or soften the EU regulations ahead of the IAA. Yet, as of now, there is no public information available about a formal ten-point plan explicitly advocating for the preservation of internal combustion engines.
The EU has already decided to phase out new cars with internal combustion engines by 2035. However, Germany, with the support of the FDP, has successfully argued for the recognition of synthetic, CO₂-neutral fuels (E-Fuels), which could potentially allow certain internal combustion engines to remain in use.
The FDP and CDU/CSU have been particularly critical of the ban, but a current ten-point plan advocating for its reversal remains undocumented. Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius has emphasised the importance of this issue, stating that it decides the future of the industry, jobs, and the competitiveness of Germany and Europe.
The automotive industry is a significant part of Germany's economy, and the potential ban is perceived as a threat to hundreds of thousands of jobs. The EU Commission is expected to review the combustion engine ban, and the industry is also facing a sales slump, competition from China, the shift to electric mobility, and a trade dispute with the USA.
Industry experts have expressed mixed opinions about the ten-point plan. Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, an industry expert, views it as "more of a mixed bag than an action plan." Katharina Dröge, chairwoman of the Green parliamentary group, finds Söder's demand for the complete abolition of the ban problematic and refers to him as "the gravedigger of the German automobile industry."
Despite the ongoing speculation, it is crucial to emphasise that the ten-point plan, as of September 17, 2025, remains unconfirmed and unpublished. If you have any recent developments or updates regarding this matter, please share them to aid further research.
