A subtle but meaningful shift is emerging from Brussels around one of Europe’s most symbolic transport policies. According to discussions now circulating at the level of the European Commission, the long-promised 2035 cutoff—intended to end the sale of new cars with CO₂-emitting combustion engines—may no longer be treated as a hard edge. Instead of an absolute stop, policymakers are considering a framework that would allow carmakers to continue producing a limited number of petrol and diesel vehicles beyond that date.