What Does the EU’s Ban on Diesel and Gasoline Engines Starting in 2035 Mean?

Photo: Marek Ślusarczyk , Wikimedia Commons On April 26, 2025, an image of a political world map was posted on Facebook, showing the countries of the European Union and the U.S. state of California colored in blue. The text below the map claims that they plan to ban diesel cars by 2035 in order to “save the world from pollution”. This post received over 500 interactions, but the claims from the image have been shared since April 21 on Facebook and Instagram profiles (1, 2).

What are the Facts?

The ban on diesel-powered cars by 2035 in the European Union refers to a ban on the sale of new vehicles that use fuels emitting CO2 (such as diesel and gasoline). The Facebook post can misleadingly suggest that it’s a total ban on diesel vehicles in the EU. In fact, as explained in an informational article by the Directorate for Communication of the European Parliament back in 2023, in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, the European Union has taken steps to reduce vehicle emissions, as road transport accounts for one-fifth of CO2 emissions in the EU. This was done through the adoption of the so-called European Climate Law in 2021, as part of the EU Green Deal. However, amendments to the earlier regulation on CO2 emission standards set more ambitious targets for reducing these emissions compared to the original plans for cars and vans. One of the measures includes banning the sale of new diesel or gasoline-powered vehicles. This amendment was adopted and went into effect in 2023. The European Parliament’s explanation includes some frequently asked questions related to the ban. It clarifies that EU citizens will still be allowed to use vehicles that run on fossil fuels and that the ban does not apply to existing cars. It also states that it will still be possible to buy used diesel or gasoline cars after 2035, but the cost of owning such a vehicle might be higher. As for California, according to a December 2024 article by The Guardian, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allowed the state to introduce its own CO2 emission rules near the end of former President Joe Biden’s administration. These rules mean that starting in 2035, new gasoline-powered cars will no longer be sold in California. However, just like in the EU, driving and purchasing used vehicles will still be allowed. The Guardian notes that this decision was expected to be overturned after Donald Trump came into office. That process began in early May, when the decision reached the U.S. Congress. After the House of Representatives voted to repeal it, the Senate did the same on May 22. Therefore, the claim that the EU and California plan to ban diesel cars starting in 2035 is rated as a manipulation of facts. (Amar Karađuz, Raskrinkavanje.ba)