EU likely to follow Germanys lead and ban sales of combustion engines from 2030
Germany passes legislation to ban the sale of all combustion engines after 2030 In a bold move that could cause a cascade effect around the world one of Germany's legislative bodies has voted unanimously to ban the sale of petrol and diesel powered cars in favour of more modern, and cleaner, electric vehicles by 2030.
Key takeaways
- The country's Bundesrat, or Federal Council, passed the resolution late last week to only approve emission free cars for use on the roads by 2030.
- Although this seems like a tall order as an influential member of the EU Germany has often been able to influence the blocks decisions numerous times before.
- Many German car brands, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, are already rolling out battery-powered vehicles and this legislation is likely to hasten those developments.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2016) 'EU likely to follow Germanys lead and ban sales of combustion engines from 2030', 311 Institute, 12 October. Available at: https://www.fanaticalfuturist.com/2016/10/eu-likely-to-follow-germanys-lead-and-ban-sales-of-combustion-engines-from-2030/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Germany passes legislation to ban the sale of all combustion engines after 2030
In a bold move that could cause a cascade effect around the world one of Germany's legislative bodies has voted unanimously to ban the sale of petrol and diesel powered cars in favour of more modern, and cleaner, electric vehicles by 2030.
The country's Bundesrat, or Federal Council, passed the resolution late last week to only approve emission free cars for use on the roads by 2030.
This would effectively phase out vehicles with internal combustion engines, which generate power through the hot gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels, from sale in 14 years' time.
While the proposed ban would apply in Germany, the Bundesrat, which is similar to upper house bodies like the UK's House of Lords, has called for the European Commission in Brussels to consider implementing it across the entire European Union.
Although this seems like a tall order as an influential member of the EU Germany has often been able to influence the blocks decisions numerous times before.
The Bundesrat resolution, reported in German magazine Spiegel, calls for the "stimulation of emission-free mobility", which could come in the form of buying incentives similar to those already in place in many countries.
It also makes a case for the "review of the current practices of taxation and dues", which could lead to a clamp down on diesel tax advantages originally brought about to help meet climate-change targets around carbon.
While the resolution is non-binding, it makes a bold statement from the country which is home to some of the automotive industry's biggest names.
Many German car brands, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, are already rolling out battery-powered vehicles and this legislation is likely to hasten those developments.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Germany passes legislation to ban the sale of all combustion engines after 2030 In a bold move that could cause a cascade effect around the world one of Germany's legislative bodies has voted unanimously to ban the sale of petrol and diesel powered cars in favour of more modern, and cleaner, electric vehicles by 2030.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
What future do you need to see?
Choose one to get started on transport and mobility and the future of your organisation.
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 12 October 2016. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2016). EU likely to follow Germanys lead and ban sales of combustion engines from 2030. 311 Institute. https://www.fanaticalfuturist.com/2016/10/eu-likely-to-follow-germanys-lead-and-ban-sales-of-combustion-engines-from-2030/
You are welcome to quote this article with credit and a link to the original.