France, Dec. 17 -- The change allows carmakers to keep selling a limited number of polluting vehicles after 2035, provided they offset the extra emissions through carbon credits. The original ban, adopted in 2023, required all new cars sold from that date to be zero-emission.

EU industry chief Stephane Sejourne said the bloc was not abandoning its climate goals as he presented what he called a "lifeline" for Europe's carmakers.

"The European Commission has chosen an approach that is both pragmatic and consistent with its climate objectives,"Sejourne said.

The decision follows months of lobbying by manufacturers and several EU governments, led by Germany, which argued that the shift to electric vehicles was slower than expected and left...