Porsche Exec Says Europe’s ICE Ban Could Be Delayed

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Porsche chief financial officer Lutz Meschke has asserted that European plans to ban the sale of new combustion-powered vehicles could be delayed.

The European Union has long planned to stop the sale of combustion vehicles by 2035 but a recent slowdown in sales of battery-electric vehicles has raised questions about whether the phase-out is achievable. While many have thrown their support behind the plan, others do not believe it is achievable and these concerns have already prompted the UK to delay its planned ban of combustion vehicles by five years to 2035.

While speaking with Bloomberg at the global unveiling of the long-awaited Porsche Macan Electric, Meschke asserted that the European ban could be delayed.

“There’s a lot of discussions right now around the end of the combustion engine,” he said. “I think it could be delayed.”

While he did not explain why he thinks it could be delayed, it is likely in part due to pressure from certain manufacturers as well as broader consumer sentiment about electric vehicles and concerns about charging infrastructure. Porsche itself could benefit from the delay, although it has already committed to the widespread electrification of its entire range with the 911 being its sole combustion model.

Read: EVs Sold In Europe Will Need A Battery Passport From 2027

The European Union had intended to adopt a plan to phase out the sales of new combustion vehicles by 2035 last year but the move was delayed after Germany refused to support the plan, noting that vehicles powered by e-fuels should be allowed to be sold beyond 2035. Porsche is one of the auto industry’s biggest proponents of synthetic fuels and already operates a production facility in Chile that produces e-fuels.

Speaking about the EV industry more generally, Meschke added that it is possible subsidies will be reintroduced for volume electric vehicles across Europe.

“We have to see how steep the ramp-up curve is in coming years,” Meschke said. “If we have a situation like now, with certain reluctance to buy electric cars in Europe, then maybe the subsidies will come back.”