The remaining 10% could be made up of conventional petrol or diesel cars, along with hybrids.<\/p>\n
Carmakers will be expected to use low-carbon steel made in the EU in the vehicles they produce.<\/p>\n
The Commission also expects an increase in the use of biofuels and so-called e-fuels, which are synthesised from captured carbon dioxide, to compensate for the extra emissions created by petrol and diesel vehicles. <\/p>\n
Opponents of the move have warned that it risks undermining the transition towards electric vehicles and leaving the EU exposed in the face of foreign competition.<\/p>\n
The green transport group T&E has warned that the UK should not follow the EU’s lead by weakening its own plans to phase out the sale of conventional cars under the Zero Emission Vehicles Mandate.<\/p>\n
“The UK must stand firm. Our ZEV mandate is already driving jobs, investment and innovation into the UK. As major exporters we cannot compete unless we innovate, and global markets are going electric fast,” said T&E UK’s director Anna Krajinska.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the announcement, Sigrid de Vries, director general at ACEA, said that “flexibility” for manufacturers was “urgent”.<\/p>\n
“2030 is around the corner, and market demand is too low to avoid the risk of multi-billion-euro penalties for manufacturers,” she said.<\/p>\n
“It will take time to build the charging points and introduce fiscal and purchase incentives to get the market on track. Policy makers must provide breathing space to manufacturers to sustain jobs, innovation and investments.”<\/p>\n