Volkswagen Says Petrol Cars May Fade Away, Just Like Horses Did
Volkswagen believes the future of mobility will not be decided by bans alone. The company says battery-powered cars are likely to win over buyers because they make more sense in everyday use, and that internal combustion vehicles will slowly lose relevance as a result.
In Europe, electric cars are already taking a larger share of the market. ACEA figures show that fully electric models made up 20.9 percent of new registrations in the first four months of 2026, but the shift is still far from complete.
Martin Sander, Volkswagen’s board member responsible for sales, marketing, and after-sales, told Auto Express that the debate should focus less on the end date for combustion engines and more on why EVs deserve to be chosen in the first place.
A Natural Shift, Not a Forced One
VW’s view is that once consumers see electric vehicles as the stronger option, the market will gradually move in that direction without needing heavy pressure. Sander compared the situation to the early automobile era, when people slowly abandoned horses after realizing cars were a more practical way to travel.
He suggested that gasoline and diesel cars could follow the same historical path, becoming a relic of the past as EVs become the default choice.
Sander criticized the constant focus on the planned ICE ban, saying that telling customers they will one day be prohibited from using familiar vehicles is not the best way to encourage them to embrace new technology.
Policy Pressure and VW’s Alternative
The comments come against the backdrop of the European Union’s original plan to stop sales of new combustion-engine cars from 2035. That target has since been softened under industry pressure, although the EU still wants automakers to cut fleet emissions sharply by 2035 compared with 2021 levels.
Volkswagen says the better path is to highlight the benefits of EVs, improve charging networks, and bring down electricity costs. In the company’s view, if the experience becomes easier and more appealing, drivers will move to electric cars willingly rather than feeling pushed by regulation.
Still, the transition will not happen overnight. Revenue from combustion-engine models continues to support the development of electric vehicles, and many automakers remain dependent on that income while EV profit margins are still limited.
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