Editorial

16:16 JST, January 19, 2026

The European Union, which is highly environmentally conscious, has been forced to make adjustments to its electric vehicle strategy. It can be said that the reality of the situation is hindering the spread of EVs.

Last month, the EU effectively withdrew its plan to ban, in principle, the sale of combustion-engine vehicles, which was supposed to be introduced in 2035. It was forced to make a policy shift after criticism mounted from automakers that the ban was too radical.

The EU’s policies are characterized by the “Brussels Effect,” a phenomenon in which the bloc introduces strict regulations first, expands them into international standards and eventually enhances its industrial competitiveness. The EU promoted its EV policy through measures such as a........

© The Japan News