BRUSSELS — The European Parliament's environment committee voted on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, to weaken the European Union's car emissions targets, softening the landmark rule that would have ended new petrol and diesel car sales by 2035. In a 48–30 vote, with two abstentions, the committee backed cutting the 2035 fleet-wide carbon dioxide reduction target for new cars from 100 percent to 87.5 percent, plus 7.5 percentage points of credits for low-carbon steel produced in the EU — a total of 95 percent that leaves the door open for combustion-engine cars to keep selling beyond 2035. Illustration: The European Parliament's environment committee voted to soften the EU's 2035 car emissions target. What Happened The European Parliament's environment committee — ENVI — adopted its position on the revision of the EU's CO2 emission standards for new cars and vans on 4 November, endorsing a package that goes further than the Commission's own proposal to sof...