Bang for the buck with e-cars

Von der Leyen’s U-turn: combustion engine phase-out on the brink

Can we continue to drive with combustion engines in 2035? Ursula von der Leyen's about-turn is being watched with interest.(Bild: APA/Picturedesk, Krone KREATIV)

After a very remarkable vote in Brussels on Monday evening, the end of combustion engines is on the horizon. And e-cars, of all things, are to blame. Krone+ has the table with the new explosive reference values and the background to the surprising U-turn. 

The plans caused a stir, with Germany and Austria putting their foot down. As reported, the EU had originally planned to no longer allow new vehicles with combustion engines from 2035 and to rely 100 percent on e-cars. Now the turnaround: the Commission will be rethinking its plans as early as 2026. Most recently, even President Ursula von der Leyen had to row back. The reason: