Brussels Eyes Ban on Combustion Rental Cars in Latest Green Push

The European Commission is sharpening its legislative tools once again, this time targeting the car rental sector as its next Trojan horse for pushing the electric transition. According to several German outlets, Brussels is drafting a law that would ban rental companies from adding internal combustion engine vehicles to their fleets starting in 2030—because apparently, if you're renting, you no longer need them.

The bill, whose details remain under wraps, is expected to be finalized by the end of summer and then head to the European Parliament, where a green light is widely anticipated. If passed as proposed, the regulation could impact up to 60 percent of all new vehicle registrations—a footprint no one can afford to ignore.

Why rental fleets? From the Commission’s perspective, they’re the perfect testbed: their cars turn over faster than campaign promises, and forcing them electric means a bigger used-EV market and more consumer exposure. A similar rule may eventually hit corporate fleets. The message is clear—internal combustion must go.

This is, of course, all in the name of the EU’s sweeping Green Deal. The bloc still aims to ban new combustion vehicle sales by 2035. But the road to that target is proving bumpier than hoped: EV sales are sluggish, consumers are wary of high prices, investment is shrinking, and even industry giants like Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz are quietly backpedaling on their all-electric pledges.

Volkswagen is shelving its ID sub-brand. Mercedes-Benz is steadily sweeping its EQ line under the rug. Even the titans are realizing: green policy doesn't override market gravity. But Brussels seems to believe that if you push hard enough, applause will eventually follow.

If this law passes, Europe's rental scene could soon be fully electric. Fancy a trip to the Alps or a scenic cruise through Tuscany? Pack a charging card—and hope the only local station isn’t buried somewhere behind a cow.