Doubts are mounting across the European Union about meeting the 2035 deadline to phase out internal-combustion engines. In an interview with Italy’s La Stampa, European Commission vice-president for industrial strategy Stéphane Séjourné argued that Europe needs to shed any naivety and adapt its industrial policy to real-world pressures—above all the expansion of Chinese brands.

He warned that the continent risks losing up to 4 million vehicles a year unless the shift to electric cars is handled with flexibility. Séjourné suggested revisiting the ICE ban and easing requirements for automakers, especially those building up local production and offering affordable e-cars priced up to €15,000.

The core objective, he said, is to keep Europe competitive and shield its factories from Chinese investment that may rely on local capacity while ultimately benefiting China. Options on the table include tougher terms for Chinese assembly operations in Europe and diversifying raw-material supplies toward Canada, Brazil, and Africa.

The European Commission will present an updated strategy on December 10. Experts interpret these comments as the opening move in revisiting climate targets and potentially postponing the ICE ban. It comes across less as a retreat than a pragmatic course correction—an acknowledgment that pushing electrification without flexibility risks an economic hit.