Italy is prepared to oppose a blanket ban on the manufacture and sale of cars powered by internal combustion engines after 2035, a position articulated by the country’s Ministry of Environment and Energy Security. Italian representatives plan to articulate this viewpoint at the forthcoming gathering of EU ambassadors in Brussels, highlighting the need for a balanced approach that marries environmental ambition with practical economic and social considerations.
The stance clarifies that while Italy supports decarbonization and shares the broader environmental objectives, it believes a transition to zero emissions must be achieved through measures that are financially sustainable and socially fair. The government argues that any path to cleaner mobility should minimize adverse effects on Italy’s employment landscape and productivity, ensuring that workers and regional economies are safeguarded as the automotive sector evolves.
Officials emphasize that advancing electric vehicles cannot be the sole instrument for reaching zero emissions. The ministry notes that the ultimate success of electric mobility will be determined largely by affordability for consumers, the reliability of charging infrastructure, and the overall cost of ownership. A comprehensive strategy, therefore, should include incentives, public investment in charging networks, and support for research and innovation to keep technology accessible to a broad segment of the population.
In February, members of parliament supported a European Council-inspired initiative that envisions phasing out the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles in the European Union beginning in 2025. Projections by 2030 anticipate significant improvements in vehicle emission performance, with automakers required to cut emissions by a target approaching 55 percent for new passenger cars and roughly 50 percent for light commercial vehicles. These benchmarks reflect a continental push toward a cleaner, more efficient fleet across different vehicle categories and usage patterns.
Looking ahead to 2035, the European framework sets a stringent carbon reduction goal for new vehicles, aiming for substantial progress across manufacturing and consumer markets. The policy landscape implies that European automakers will need to transition away from conventional internal combustion engines toward fully electrified production lines and alternative propulsion technologies. Italy’s position stresses that this transition must be designed to preserve competitiveness, support industrial continuity, and protect workers while accelerating the shift to sustainable mobility across the continent.