The European Commission has set a date to unveil long-anticipated proposals on possible changes to the so-called ICE ban in the EU. According to sources within the Commission, the presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, 16 December 2025, in Strasbourg. It will not come as a single package: alongside the internal-combustion issue, officials plan to table a battery strategy and measures aimed at making company fleets greener. The calendar marker alone is likely to sharpen focus across the industry.

Under current EU arrangements, from 2035 new passenger cars must produce no CO2 in operation. In practical terms, that would rule out sales of new petrol and diesel models unless solutions emerge that meet the zero-emissions requirement. The Commission has already signaled a willingness to revisit the regulation after pressure from parts of the automotive sector and several member states. This framing leaves little room for traditional powertrains unless a compliant pathway is clearly defined.

Public debate is gaining momentum as well. In Germany, an ARD poll found that a majority of respondents view a post-2035 ban on new ICE cars critically. In political circles, ideas are circulating to recalibrate the approach, including a more visible role for climate-neutral fuels and additional support for lower-income households. Policymakers watch these currents closely; they tend to shape the room for compromise.

At the same time, some European politicians stress that even a sweeping rewrite of the rules will not, on its own, resolve every challenge facing the car industry. Competition from China and external trade barriers remain distinct sources of pressure—headwinds that regulation alone cannot dissipate.