MEPs vote to delay EU’s 2025 car climate target

The European Parliament today backed a proposal to delay the EU’s 2025 CO₂ reduction target for carmakers. Green group T&E said the delay, which was also supported yesterday by EU member state ambassadors, is an unnecessary gift to the auto industry just as electric car sales are surging in Europe. It will only serve to hold back the transition to EVs and undermine investment certainty in European manufacturing.

European car manufacturers sold 45% more battery electric cars in the first three months of the year compared to the same period of 2024. Yet the EU Commission responded to pressure from the European car industry by proposing to give automakers until 2027 to comply with their 2025 EU emissions reduction targets.

Lucien Mathieu, cars director at T&E, said: “It’s ironic that the EU is delaying emissions targets for the car industry just as EV sales surge. The boom is thanks to new, more affordable models that the carmakers launched to comply with the original EU target. This delay will allow the industry to take the foot off the gas for the EV roll-out while also slowing down investments."

T&E called on the EU to stand firm over its future CO₂ targets for carmakers as Europe cannot afford further delays in catching up with China.