France was supposed to register in the right ban on the sale of new thermal cars since 2035. Among political calculations and industrial problems, this decision risk the launch of debates.
The scene could have been unnoticed because the Hemicycle of the National Assembly was abandoned. On February 17, 2025, the vote was to allow transposition to the French Act on the ban on new thermal cars from 2035 voted on a European scale. Everything really was not as planned for the government, as Ooust-France said from the result of a well-known vote.
With 34 votes to remove the article mentioning 2035 as a goal, against the 30 opposite votes, the assembly took the government and supporters of the electric transition. It is a trompe-l’oeil victory for its critics because European law is still prevailing. However, the political signal sent by this victory will surely serve the interests of the National Rally, which is on the origin of this new camouflage of the government.
A political quarrel that progresses anything
The aim of the text was to include in French law the ban on the sale of new thermal vehicles in 2035, which was already acting by the EU. Therefore, the measures were rejected by MEPs mainly from the National Rally. A decision that will certainly please the opponents of this European measure, but without a specific impact.
It is not enough to rejoice for the opponent of the text: Voting of 17 February only this ban has progressed from 2040 to 2035. In all cases, the sale of thermal vehicles is already in French law.
What are the arguments of deputies who oppose the text?
MEPs who opposed the text justify the collision of ecological transition. While China is progressing quickly to its ecological transition, France is lost in political quarrels. These Members support several arguments, for example:
- ATn stands too high for modest households : Electric vehicles remain inaccessible for part of the population, despite state support. Opponents believe that the forcing of this transition is likely to highlight social inequalities by relieving certain homes of access to mobility.
- European Automotive Sector in trouble : French and European manufacturers are trying to compete with Chinese competition on electric vehicles. According to opponents, the imposition of a strict ban without an alternative solution could weaken the industry and support non -European imports.
- Provisions on the review scheduled for 2026 : The European Union has already planned to explore this ban in 2026 depending on the development of market and technology. For opponents, the date of date of data 2035 in French law would present a decision that could be led to development today.
This argument contradicts the position of the government. Minister of Industry Marc Ferraci remembered that “ The entire automotive industry has already put in motion ». Manufacturers warned that step back could be even more dangerous than maintaining the goal set at 2035.
Unchanged European reality
This voting is not currently questioned by European regulations. According to the principle of the superiority of EU law, France must in any case the maturity of 2035, although it was engraved in its own law. It is therefore basically a political maneuver.
The fact remains that all this can occur as a strong political signal: growing skepticism against ecological transition and its economic consequences. By confirming this prohibition, some political parties intend to influence the European Commission during the review provision. All of this remains a dangerous game for the European automotive industry that cannot afford to change the strategy according to the whims of the most influential political parties.
