France and Germany strike deal to weaken EU 2035 combustion engine car phaseout
France and Germany have agreed to push for a further weakening of the EU's planned 2035 phaseout of new combustion engine cars, potentially breaking a months-long deadlock among member states. The reported deal would relax CO2 targets to 80 percent below 2021 levels and extend timelines for the 2030 interim goal, while Germany backs French 'Buy European' demands.