On Monday, MPs rejected the inclusion in French law of the end of the sale of new thermal cars in 2035, as provided for by a European regulation. This vote calls into question the transposition of this deadline, which was to replace the ban initially planned for 2040 in France.
This refusal, adopted by a narrow majority (34 votes for the deletion of the article, against 30), was mainly supported by the deputies of the National Rally, while Renaissance, the ecologists and La France Insoumise opposed it. The opponents put forward economic and social arguments, denouncing a cost of access to electric power deemed "unaffordable" for modest households and a European automobile industry "not ready for this transition".
Industry and Energy Minister Marc Ferracci defended the 2035 date, saying it had already initiated the transformation of the automotive sector and that manufacturers themselves were not questioning this objective, but were asking for more flexibility in the application of sanctions.
While Brussels has not yet amended this ban, which is part of the European Green Deal, pressure is mounting among manufacturers and some politicians as sales of electric cars lag behind Chinese competition. The European Commission has launched a consultation with manufacturers, and an action plan is expected in early March to support the electrification of the vehicle fleet.
