# EU relaxes CO2 rules and backtracks on end of combustion engine by 2035 > The European Commission has softened the revision of CO2 standards, and the rule mandating the end of new combustion car sales by 2035 is no longer in force. This reversal reshuffles the cards for manufacturers and the electrification of the European market. This change applies to the entire European market, while an analysis estimates it could threaten 185,000 jobs in the automotive industry. Positions differ by country: in Germany, a taskforce calls for a revision of CO2 rules; in Italy, ANFIA welcomes the relaxation while asking for further modifications; and in France, a Member of the European Parliament defends the European automotive package and rejects a return to combustion engines. In the UK, an expert believes manufacturers will maintain their electric shift despite the postponement of the combustion ban, with demand guiding their choices more than regulation. **In brief**: Ongoing story bringing together 9 events in 5 countries (France, Belgique, Allemagne and 2 more), followed from 30 October 2026 to 4 November 2026. 18 articles from 15 sources (regulation and tariffs, plants, jobs and earnings, electric and batteries); last updated on 4 November 2026 at 18:00. Figures reported: 185000 jobs. - Status: ongoing - Scope: International - Category: Regulation and tariffs, Plants, jobs and earnings, Electric and batteries - Countries: France, Belgique, Allemagne, Italie, Royaume-Uni - First detected: 30 October 2026 at 23:04 - Updated: 4 November 2026 at 18:00 - Web page: https://mecapress.com/stories/119-eu-relaxes-co2-rules-and-backtracks-on-end-of-combustion-engine-by-2035 ## National stories (5) - United Kingdom — 1 country-specific event, 2 articles - Germany — 1 country-specific event, 1 articles - France — 0 country-specific event, 8 articles - United States — 0 country-specific event, 3 articles - Italy — 0 country-specific event, 2 articles ## Sources by country and language - France: 8 articles, 5 outlets - United States: 3 articles, 2 outlets - United Kingdom: 2 articles, 2 outlets - Italy: 2 articles, 1 outlets - China: 1 articles, 1 outlets - Germany: 1 articles, 1 outlets - Spain: 1 articles, 1 outlets **Languages**: French (8), Italian (4), English (3), Chinese (1), German (1), Spanish (1) ## Timeline (9 events) ### 30 October 2026 — [European vote on electric vehicles could shake up the market](https://mecapress.com/events/1092-european-vote-on-electric-vehicles-could-shake-up-the-market.md) A European-level vote on the trajectory of electric vehicles could change market rules and benefit global manufacturers, as the sector stands at a crossroads. 2 sources, 2 articles · Bruxelles — Belgique, France ### 31 October 2026 — [Europe risks losing 185,000 jobs by easing the end of internal combustion engines](https://mecapress.com/events/89-europe-risks-losing-185-000-jobs-by-easing-the-end-of-internal-combustion.md) As Brussels considers easing rules on the end of internal combustion engines, an analysis estimates that Europe could lose 185,000 jobs in the automotive industry. 3 sources, 3 articles · Bruxelles ### 31 October 2026 — [Ban on petrol and diesel engines after 2035 dropped](https://mecapress.com/events/858-ban-on-petrol-and-diesel-engines-after-2035-dropped.md) The European rule providing for the end of new internal combustion car sales in 2035 is no longer in force. This regulatory about-face reshuffles the cards for automakers and the electrification of the European market. 2 sources, 2 articles · Italie, Allemagne, France ### 1 November 2026 — [The employment cost of CO2 rules for the European automotive industry](https://mecapress.com/events/2736-the-employment-cost-of-co2-rules-for-the-european-automotive-industry.md) The article assesses the number of jobs at risk in the European automotive sector due to regulatory constraints on CO2 emissions. 1 sources, 1 articles · Not located ### 3 November 2026 — [Une taskforce allemande réclame un changement de cap sur les règles CO2](https://mecapress.com/events/3204-une-taskforce-allemande-reclame-un-changement-de-cap-sur-les-regles-co2.md) Une taskforce demande une révision des règles européennes sur les émissions de CO2 imposées à l'industrie automobile, selon la presse allemande. 1 sources, 1 articles · Allemagne ### 4 November 2026 — [Les constructeurs maintiendraient leur virage électrique malgré un report du thermique](https://mecapress.com/events/3908-les-constructeurs-maintiendraient-leur-virage-electrique-malgre-un-report-du.md) Selon un expert, les constructeurs ne ralentiraient pas leurs lancements de véhicules électriques même si le Royaume-Uni ou l'UE repoussait la fin du thermique. La demande, plus que la réglementation, guiderait leurs choix. 1 sources, 1 articles · Royaume-Uni ### 4 November 2026 — [Un eurodéputé français défend le paquet automobile européen et refuse le retour au thermique](https://mecapress.com/events/4128-un-eurodepute-francais-defend-le-paquet-automobile-europeen-et-refuse-le-retour.md) Le député européen François Kalfon plaide pour le maintien du cap fixé par le paquet automobile européen et s'oppose à un retour en arrière sur le thermique. 1 sources, 1 articles · Bruxelles — France, Belgique ### 4 November 2026 — [Une commission du Parlement européen soutient la vente de certains thermiques après 2035](https://mecapress.com/events/4318-une-commission-du-parlement-europeen-soutient-la-vente-de-certains-thermiques.md) Une commission du Parlement européen se prononce en faveur du maintien de la vente de certains véhicules à moteur thermique après 2035, dans le cadre du réexamen des règles CO2. 4 sources, 4 articles · Bruxelles — Belgique, France, Allemagne, Italie ### 4 November 2026 — [Bruxelles assouplit sa révision des normes CO2 automobiles](https://mecapress.com/events/4341-bruxelles-assouplit-sa-revision-des-normes-co2-automobiles.md) La révision des standards CO2 introduit plus de flexibilité selon la Commission européenne. L'ANFIA salue le changement de cap mais réclame des modifications supplémentaires. 3 sources, 3 articles · Bruxelles — Belgique, Italie, France, Allemagne --- Cite as: Mecapress, “EU relaxes CO2 rules and backtracks on end of combustion engine by 2035”, https://mecapress.com/stories/119-eu-relaxes-co2-rules-and-backtracks-on-end-of-combustion-engine-by-2035 Methodology: https://mecapress.com/methodology