A little over a fifth of all new cars sold in the United States so far this year are fully electric. According to data published by the United States Department of Energy, EVs accounted for 20.9 percent of new registrations in the first four months of 2026. Nevertheless, there’s still a long way to go before everyone is convinced to make the switch.
According to Volkswagen, discussions about whether sales of new combustion-engine cars should be banned miss the bigger point. Martin Sander, Member of the Executive Board for Sales, Marketing, and After Sales, told Auto Express that the focus should be on why EVs are simply better cars overall, rather than lamenting the continued existence of gas and diesel engines.
View Price on AmazonVW’s thinking is that once more people realize electric vehicles are superior, there will be a natural transition from internal combustion engines to EV. Sander drew parallels with the early days of the automotive industry, when cars gradually began to replace horses as people recognized they were a better means of transportation. He believes the same will eventually happen with combustion-engine vehicles, with or without a ban, as EVs steadily take their place.
Sander was referring to the European Union’s initial plan to ban sales of new combustion-engine cars from 2035. Facing pressure from the automotive industry, the EU has since softened its stance. Although new internal combustion engine cars will continue to be sold beyond the middle of the next decade, only a handful of models are likely to survive.
The EU wants automakers to slash fleet CO2 emissions by 90 percent by 2035 compared with 2021 levels, effectively leaving only a narrow path forward for combustion-engine vehicles. VW believes the focus should shift from mandating EVs to explaining their advantages while also improving charging infrastructure and lowering energy costs. Sander argues that by doing so, consumers will naturally gravitate toward electric cars rather than being pushed by regulations.
Motor1's Take: VW has a point because, let’s face it, no one likes being forced to do something. Having freedom of choice is always preferable, and the German automaker argues that promoting the benefits of EVs will accelerate adoption and gas-powered cars will eventually reach their natural end.
Source: motor1.com
