Automotive package: 2035 tailpipe emissions target revised from 100% to 90%, with new flexibilities

“Europe has reaffirmed its objective of decarbonising the automotive industry by 2035. The direction is clear and unchanged. What is evolving are the calculation methods. The flexibilities we are introducing do not undermine this objective. Any additional emissions resulting from these flexibilities will have to be fully offset upstream,” said Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy and European Commissioner for Industry, SMEs and the Single Market, at the presentation of the automotive package on 16/12/2025.

From 2035, carmakers will be required to achieve a 90% reduction in tailpipe emissions. The remaining 10% will have to be offset through the use of low-carbon steel produced in the EU or through the use of e-fuels and biofuels.For vans, the CO2 reduction target for 2030 has been revised down from 50% to 40%. The Commission is also proposing a targeted adjustment to CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles, introducing flexibility to facilitate compliance with the 2030 targets.The package also includes…