Auto: date, exempt brands… All you need to know about the end of thermal cars

A blow to the automotive industry. The act carried out on June 8, 2022 by the European Parliament is historic. This is the vote of a law concerning the ban on the sale of thermal cars in Europe.

The sale of new vehicles, petrol, diesel – i.e. 100% internal combustion – or hybrids and plug-in hybrids, will no longer be authorized on European soil from 2035.

Objective of the MEPs: to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Brussels thus proposes to proscribe from this date the CO2 emissions of new cars, compared to their level of 2021. In fact, only the sale of electric or hydrogen cars will be possible afterwards. As for the amendment which proposed to keep a share of plug-in hybrid vehicles beyond 2035, it was rejected.

Moreover, this unique technological solution has largely divided MEPs. They consider that the all-electric presents a big risk, in particular because of the uncertainties related to the capacity of the charging network, the production of carbon-free electricity or the availability of raw materials for the batteries. Others see it as an essential step forward in containing global warming.

Nevertheless, some manufacturers could escape the measure. An amendment known as “Ferrari” was in fact discreetly voted by the deputies, under the impetus of the government and the Italian car manufacturers, reports Auto Plus.

Thus, manufacturers “who represent less than 1,000 new vehicles registered during a calendar year” will be exempt from the measure. Those “who represent between 1,000 and 10,000 passenger cars or between 1,000 and 2,000 light commercial vehicles” will be able to continue to sell thermal vehicles until 2036. They therefore benefit from a one-year reprieve.

Which models are affected? Check them out in our slideshow below.