Polestar doesn’t want to stop the 2035 commbustion engine ban, and has brought its message directly to the heart of European policymaking, staging a highly visible protest outside the European Commission’s Berlaymont building in Brussels.
The action was aimed at urging EU institutions to maintain the 2035 ban on the sale of new combustion-engine cars, at a time when political and industrial pressure is mounting to weaken or delay the target.
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The Polestar protest
Rather than a traditional demonstration, the protest took the form of a moving visual statement. Several Polestar vehicles, each displaying the message “Still committed – still electric”, circulated around the Berlaymont building. The convoy was intended to underline Polestar’s position as Europe’s only pure-play electric car manufacturer and to emphasize its call for a clear and consistent commitment to full electrification across the European automotive market.
The initiative comes amid an increasingly intense debate within the European car industry. In recent months, parts of the sector have stepped up lobbying efforts to revise the 2035 deadline, suggesting alternative approaches such as partial targets or exemptions for certain powertrains. Concerns raised by critics include the pace of charging infrastructure rollout, the affordability of electric vehicles, and the global competitiveness of European manufacturers.
Polestar warns that any political retreat would have consequences extending far beyond short-term market adjustments. According to the company, weakening or postponing the 2035 target risks undermining Europe’s climate objectives while also damaging the region’s long-term industrial competitiveness. Clear regulatory direction, Polestar argues, is essential to justify large-scale investments in electric vehicle platforms, battery supply chains, and supporting infrastructure.
Speaking in connection with the protest, Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller delivered a strong critique of proposals to dilute the existing targets. “A fossil fuel car built in 2035 could still be polluting twenty years later,” Lohscheller said, pointing to the long service life of vehicles and the cumulative impact of continued combustion-engine sales. He added that shifting from a clear 100 percent zero-emissions objective to a lower threshold might appear marginal, but would have significant long-term effects.
Lohscheller stressed that the stakes go beyond environmental policy alone. “If we backtrack now, we won’t just hurt the climate. We’ll hurt Europe’s ability to compete,” he said. In his view, electrification represents a strategic opportunity to create sustainable growth, skilled jobs, and technological leadership for decades to come. Reversing course, he argued, would instead prolong the life of outdated industries while other regions continue to move decisively toward electric mobility.
A key element of Polestar’s position is the belief that consumer acceptance is no longer the main barrier. Clean electric technologies, the company notes, are already available, increasingly affordable, and widely adopted across many European markets. “Europe doesn’t have a demand problem, it has a confidence problem,” Lohscheller said, calling on policymakers to provide certainty and consistency rather than mixed signals.
