EU gives carmakers ‘breathing space’ on pollution target as EV sales slump

European manufacturers say the market for zero-emissions cars is not picking up fast enough and the industry needs greater support. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

European carmakers are to be given two extra years to meet this year’s pollution target, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has said, in a further rollback of her green deal climate policies.

Companies who sell too many dirty vehicles this year will be allowed to compensate by selling more clean vehicles in the two years that follow, under a proposal that would stretch the window of compliance for the 2025 fleet emissions target to 2027.