Energy & climate

End of combustion-engine ban: where do Germany’s seven parties stand?

The statement in the quiz

The EU rule that bans sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035 should be scrapped.

Background

Under a 2023 EU regulation, CO₂ emissions from new cars must be cut by 100% from 2035. In December 2025 the European Commission proposed a 90% cut instead, with the rest offset by low-carbon steel made in the EU or by synthetic fuels and biofuels. When the Commission’s website was last updated (January 2026), this was still listed as a proposal.

Sources for the background: European Commission: Emission standards for cars

At a glance

CDU/CSUFor
AfDFor
SPDAgainst
GreensAgainst
Die LinkeAgainst
BSWFor
FDPFor

ForLeaning forNeutral / mixedLeaning againstAgainstNot in manifesto

Party by party

CDU/CSU Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU)

For

Says the combustion-engine ban must be reversed.

From the manifesto „Das Verbrenner-Verbot muss rückgängig gemacht werden.“

Source: CDU/CSU manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 74

AfD Alternative for Germany

For

Wants to fight at every level to lift the combustion-engine ban.

From the manifesto „das Verbot des Verbrennungsmotors aufzuheben“

Source: AfD manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 42

SPD Social Democratic Party

Against

Sees electric cars as the future; the goal stays, but the way there can be more pragmatic.

From the manifesto „Die Zukunft der Autos liegt in der Elektromobilität.“

Source: SPD manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 7

Greens Alliance 90/The Greens

Against

Wants only climate-neutral cars to be newly registered from 2035.

From the manifesto „Wir bleiben dabei, ab 2035 nur noch klimaneutrale Antriebe neu zuzulassen.“

Source: Greens manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 25

Die Linke The Left (Die Linke)

Against

Wants to keep the EU timetable for ending sales of new petrol and diesel cars.

From the manifesto „halten wir am Auslaufen vom Neuwagenverkauf für Verbrenner entsprechend der gültigen EU-Richtlinie fest“

Source: Die Linke manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 36

BSW BSW (Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance)

For

Wants to overturn the combustion-engine ban.

From the manifesto „Das Verbrennerverbot wollen wir kippen.“

Source: BSW manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 29

FDP Free Democratic Party

For

Wants the de facto combustion-engine ban from 2035 lifted immediately.

From the manifesto „für eine umgehende Aufhebung des faktischen Verbrenner-Verbots ab dem Jahr 2035“

Source: FDP manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 40

Positions are coded on five steps: for, leaning for, neutral or mixed, leaning against, against. A party whose manifesto says nothing on the statement is marked “not in manifesto”, and the quiz leaves the statement out of that party’s score. The coding method and its checks are on the method page.

Where do you stand on this one?

This is one of the statements in the German Party Spectrum Quiz. The whole quiz takes about five minutes and shows how your views split across the seven parties, plus your place on an economic and social map. No sign-up, and we never ask who you are.

Start the quiz