- Global shift away from gasoline engines driven by regulation and climate commitments
- California approves ban on new gasoline-powered vehicle sales, signaling global impact
- Zero-emission quotas: 2026 35%, 2028 51%, 2030 68%, 2035 100%
- Romania: electrified sales overtook diesel in H1 2022; Rabla Plus boosts EV uptake
The global automotive industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation, and gasoline engines appear to be the next on the list of vehicles that will gradually disappear from the market. After diesel engines began to be phased out of consumer preferences, the international trend clearly points toward reducing pollutant emissions and adopting sustainable mobility solutions.
This shift is not only a consumer preference, but it is increasingly becoming a reality driven by government regulations and the pressure of international climate agreements. This transition affects not only the American or European markets but the entire global auto industry.
California prepares to ban gasoline-powered vehicles
The state of California is poised to take a revolutionary step in the American car market. On August 25, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted for a measure that will ban the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles, marking a world first in the fight against pollution.
Daniel Sperling, a member of CARB’s board, said he was 99.9% convinced that this measure would pass, noting that it is “the most important thing CARB has done in the last 30 years. It is important not only for California, but for the entire country and the world.”
California’s decision carries major implications due to the state’s considerable economic power. With an economy that would rank as the fifth-largest in the world if it were a country, California wields significant influence over national and international auto policies.
Zero-emission vehicle quotas
The new directives set clear intermediate targets for zero-emission vehicles, focusing exclusively on new vehicle models:
- 2026: 35% of new passenger cars, SUVs and smaller pickups must be zero-emission
- 2028: increase to 51%
- 2030: reaching 68%
- 2035: 100% of vehicles sold must be zero-emission
This gradual approach allows automakers to progressively adapt to the new requirements, while charging infrastructure and battery technologies continue to develop.
Spectacular developments on Romania’s car market
Romania is experiencing major changes in consumer preferences. In the first half of 2022, for the first time in the history of the local auto market, sales of electric and hybrid vehicles surpassed diesel vehicle sales.
The Ministry of Environment confirmed that this growth is largely due to incentives provided through the Rabla Plus program, administered by the Environmental Fund Administration.
Romanian car market statistics in the first seven months of 2022
Official figures reveal a radical transformation of the Romanian car market:
- Electrified passenger cars (full electric, plug-in hybrid and full hybrid) recorded a 106.4% increase, reaching a market share of 20.7%
- Diesel vehicles declined by 29.3% compared to the same period in 2021, reaching a share of only 14.1%
- Gasoline-powered engines rose by 10.1%, maintaining a market share of 65.3%
- Fully electric cars (Full Electric) reached 7.9% of the Romanian market, compared with 1.9% in the same period in 2021
More notably, fully electric cars posted a dramatic 300% increase in market share in the first seven months, compared with the previous year.
Minister Tánczos Barna stated that “the numbers show that we are rapidly approaching the end of the diesel era. This is the first year for Romania in which more green cars are purchased than diesel passenger cars. It is the clear result of the Rabla Plus program and of multi-year planning, with emphasis on stimulating the green car market in the coming years.”
European calendar for eliminating polluting vehicles
Romania, along with the other member states of the European Union, must respect a strict calendar imposed by the Green Deal, the European environmental pact. This agreement establishes that NOx emissions from the transport sector must be reduced by up to 90% by 2050.
Since the average vehicle lifespan is about 15 years, 2035 has been set as the deadline for phasing out the sale of new gasoline and diesel vehicles. This date allows a final generation of internal combustion vehicles to complete its life cycle by the ultimate deadline of 2050.
Expert forecasts for the Romanian market
Dan Vârti e, president of the Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Importers (APIA), notes a significant rise in demand for electric vehicles in the Romanian market. According to his projections for 2022, about 10,000–12,000 electric cars are expected to be sold in Romania.
Forecasts for the coming years are even more optimistic. Vârti e says that “the number of gasoline, hybrid and electric cars will grow strongly in the coming years, so by 2030 there will be no diesel cars sold in Romania.”
The APIA president emphasizes the need for a coordinated approach: “Romania needs a government-level, industry, and consumer commitment to a transition toward a vehicle fleet that is as low-pollution as possible.”
Challenges and opportunities for the transition
The shift to electric vehicles is not only a technological change; it involves transformations across the entire automotive infrastructure:
- Development of a rapid charging network
- Adapting auto service centers for maintenance of electric vehicles
- Professional retraining of mechanics and automotive technicians
- Investments in battery and component production for electric vehicles
- Developing solutions for recycling used batteries
These challenges also present opportunities for the development of new industries and jobs. Romania, with its traditions in the auto industry, has the potential to become a regional hub for electric vehicle production and related components.
The change is inevitable and is accelerating faster than many experts anticipated. The coming years will be decisive for how the auto industry, governments and consumers manage this transition toward more sustainable mobility.
