German minister dampens hopes for quick deal on EU auto engine rules

German Transport Minister Volker Wissing has put the brakes on hopes for a quick agreement over the European Union's agreed phase-out of the combustion engine ahead of a summit that begins on Thursday, reported dpa.

Expected EU rules that would only allow emission-free new cars after 2035 have been put on hold after Germany raised last-minute objections and pressed for additional demands.

"Technology bans have never brought the country any further," Wissing told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper on Thursday.

The free-market Free Democrats (FDP), a junior partner in Germany's ruling coalition, has led efforts to revise the deal. And Wissing, a politician from the FDP, has himself pushed back on demands from the EU Commission to reach a quick agreement.

"We are talking about regulation for the year 2035. I don't understand why you shouldn't be able to take the time to look at things closely again," Wissing said.

Wissing and other German politicians have pressed the EU Commission to allow new passenger cars with combustion engines to be registered after 2035 if the vehicles run on so-called e-fuels.

This deviates from a deal negotiated at EU level back in autumn that only emission-free new cars may be registered in the EU from 2035.

A final confirmation of the deal by the EU states, which was scheduled for early March and considered a formality, was cancelled after Germany raised its objections.