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Many Countries Are Targeting 2035 for a Major Shift to Electric Vehicles

More than 16 governments have light-duty-vehicle phase-out targets, but a 2035 ambition is not automatically a binding ban. The COP26 pledge, EU rules and proposals all have different scope and status.
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There is no single worldwide law requiring all new cars to be electric by 2035. Governments have set or announced different goals, and the policies vary in legal force and in which vehicles they cover. The strongest broad picture is a mix of national targets and a collective pledge: the Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council tracker reported in 2026 that more than 16 governments had their own light-duty-vehicle phase-out targets, while more than 44 countries had signed the COP26 Zero Emission Vehicles Declaration. The declaration is an ambition, not a binding law shared by all signatories.

What does a 2035 EV target actually mean?

“Targeting 2035” can describe policies with very different consequences. A goal for new-car sales is not the same as a rule for registrations, a target for government fleets, or a plan to increase the number of EVs on the road. Nor does a pledge carry the same legal force as an adopted regulation.

Policy wording What it tells you What it does not establish by itself
In-force legislation A law or regulation has been adopted and is in force, with the scope and requirements set by its text. That every vehicle type is covered, or that existing vehicles must be removed from roads.
Proposal A government or institution has proposed a change that may still require approval. That the proposed rule is already binding.
Objective or announced target A stated policy aim or planned direction. That it creates an enforceable sales requirement.
Voluntary declaration Signatories have endorsed a shared ambition. That each signatory has enacted the same national law.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) uses separate categories for legislation, proposals, objectives and announced targets in its Global EV Policy Explorer. The explorer was updated on 20 May 2026 and its 2026 edition covers policies from around three-quarters of countries, so it is a useful tracker rather than a complete census of every national measure.

Which countries are aiming for a 2035 shift?

The available figures show that 2035-related commitments extend beyond a handful of places, but they do not establish an exhaustive list of countries with binding national 2035 requirements. The Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council tracker, accessed in 2026, reports more than 16 governments with their own light-duty-vehicle phase-out targets. Separately, it reports more than 44 countries signed onto the COP26 declaration. Those are distinct counts: the declaration’s signatories should not be counted as countries with enacted phase-out laws.

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The COP26 pledge is a shared ambition

The government signatories to the COP26 Zero Emission Vehicles Declaration say: “As governments, we will work towards all sales of new cars and vans being zero emission by 2040 or earlier, or by no later than 2035 in leading markets.” That wording sets a collective direction and gives leading markets an earlier ambition. It does not impose one uniform deadline on every signatory.

The European Union provides a concrete regulatory example

The EU has an adopted emissions standard with a 2035 target, but the Commission has also proposed changing that framework. These should not be conflated:

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EU measure Status and timing Scope and effect
Regulation (EU) 2019/631, revised by Regulation (EU) 2023/851 Adopted framework Provides a 100% emissions-reduction target from 2035 for new passenger cars and vans.
European Commission package announced in December 2025 Proposal, not an enacted replacement on the evidence available here Would set a 90% tailpipe-emissions reduction target from 2035, with the remaining 10% compensated through specified measures. The proposal would allow plug-in hybrids, range extenders, mild hybrids and internal-combustion vehicles to continue to play a role beyond 2035.

The existing EU target concerns new vehicles; it is not a requirement to scrap cars already on the road. The Commission says passenger cars and vans together account for around 19% of the EU’s total CO2 emissions—around 16% from cars and 3% from vans. Its figures for 2024 show zero-emission vehicles made up 14.5% of new car registrations and 6.4% of new van registrations in the EU, Norway and Iceland. Between 2019 and 2024, average CO2 emissions from newly registered passenger cars in Europe fell 28%, while average emissions from new vans fell 9%.

Why an announced target is not the same as an EV conversion

A deadline can influence manufacturers and investment, but the pace of change also depends on practical conditions. The IEA identifies CO2 and fuel-economy standards for new light-duty vehicles as important drivers of EV sales growth outside China. It also reports that sales can stall in some regions where policy support is limited or charging infrastructure is inadequate.

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That means a transition depends on more than a target date: charging access, grid capacity, vehicle availability and policy design all affect whether buyers can switch. Public charging is important for drivers without reliable home charging; a home EV charger, including a Level 2 charger where suitable, is one possible option rather than a requirement for every EV owner.

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What the global projections do—and do not—say

IEA figures for 2035 are scenario results, not guarantees that countries will enact phase-outs or meet a uniform deadline. In the IEA’s 2026 Current Policies Scenario, the global stock of EVs across vehicle types other than two- and three-wheelers exceeds 450 million by 2035. In its Stated Policies Scenario, electric-car numbers rise from 21 million to 55 million by 2035, with most of that expansion in emerging markets and developing economies. These projections describe outcomes under stated assumptions; neither is proof that every country will reach a 2035 sales target.

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How to check a 2035 claim before relying on it

  1. Check the status. Find out whether the measure is legislation in force, an adopted policy, a proposal, an announced target or a voluntary declaration. The IEA Global EV Policy Explorer separates these categories and tracks country-level policy updates.
  2. Check the vehicle scope. Confirm whether it covers passenger cars, vans or other light-duty vehicles, heavy vehicles, two- and three-wheelers, or only government fleets.
  3. Check what is being counted. A target may concern new sales, registrations, emissions performance or the size of the vehicle fleet. A new-vehicle target does not automatically apply to vehicles already in use.
  4. Check the date and jurisdiction. A regional rule, national objective and subnational policy are not interchangeable. For developing proposals, verify whether the text has since been adopted or changed.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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