{
  "id": 14968085,
  "title": "Ofensiva francoalemana para rebajar los límites a la venta de coches de combustión",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/ofensiva-francoalemana-para-rebajar-los-limites-a-la-venta-de-coches",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-16T13:25:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Expansion ES",
    "slug": "expansion-es",
    "url": "https://www.expansion.com/economia/2026/10/16/ofensiva-francoalemana-rebajar-limites-venta-coches-combustion.html"
  },
  "original_language": "es",
  "account": "A common front has emerged in Brussels, with Paris and Berlin pushing for a reduction in limits on the sale of combustion engine vehicles. The two automotive industry giants, France and Germany, have launched a campaign in Brussels to lower the 90% pact on the sale of traditional combustion engine cars, which the European Commission had proposed for 2035. The European Commission's December package aimed for a 90% reduction in emissions from the vehicle fleet compared to 2021 levels. The remaining 10% could be achieved through green credits, financial tools that offset excess pollution from other industries or geographies, and can be commercialized to compensate for added difficulty or higher costs in environmental transition. Initially, these credits could be used if a company certified investment and use of sustainable renewable fuels (like e-fuels and advanced biofuels) or low-carbon steel manufactured in the EU. However, the Franco-German axis proposes a different approach, with the duo aiming for a 90% reduction in emissions, exempting companies from obtaining green credits to compensate for that 10% additional reduction. This move would lower the costs for automotive companies continuing to produce partial combustion engine vehicles. Paris and Berlin are fighting to keep the legislative guidance for a primarily electric vehicle fleet in Europe, but providing manufacturers with significant flexibility to maintain some production of traditional cars and hybrids. The industry had requested these measures from the European Commission to keep factories operational and export combustion engine models to regions with less strict green requirements. The French and German alliance does not bring additional votes but can exert considerable pressure due to their economic size and importance in the car market. Germany alone contributes about 24% of EU passenger car sales, while France accounts for nearly 15% of the total European market. Together, the two countries are estimated to represent almost 4 out of 10 cars sold in the 27 EU member states. In Spain, the automotive industry remains highly potent, with manufacturing bases in Germany, France, and key players such as Volkswagen, Mercedes, and Stellantis. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated, \"A good day for drivers and workers in Germany, France, and Europe. We've agreed on a package about freedom of choice, technological openness, and preservation of climate objectives. This is an investment signal for the industry.\" French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that \"Europe must be a continent that innovates, invests, and produces, while protecting the climate and preserving our jobs,\" and hopes the Franco-German dynamic will quickly lead to an agreement for their partners, for jobs, and for industry. The prospect of greater flexibility for traditional cars could provide direct benefits to automotive companies. According to ACEA data, combustion engine vehicles still yield up to three times more profit per unit sold.",
  "summary": "El frente común incluye más flexibilidades para la era post 2035. Si París y Berlín sacan adelante su propuesta, las compañías no tendrán que compensar las emisiones extra que genere la venta permitida de vehículos tradicionales sobre el límite pactado del 90% de los niveles de 2021 Leer",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}