Internal combustion engines are back in fashion - Reason: political and trade tensions, doubts about electric vehicles
Car buyers around the world are turning to internal combustion vehicles due to policy changes, trade wars and growing skepticism about the infrastructure and costs of electric vehicles, according to a report by professional services group EY.
To ease sales of gasoline-powered cars, US President Donald Trump last week proposed lowering fuel economy standards set by his predecessor Joe Biden, while the European Union may soon introduce a more relaxed version of its plan to phase out internal combustion engines by 2035.
The policy changes follow a slower-than-expected shift to electric vehicles, experts say. They add that Chinese buyers, while buying more green cars, are less interested in how they work and more focused on integrating them into their digital lifestyles.
While carmakers push for a slower transition to save the industry, electric transportation groups argue that a rapid shift toward green vehicles is necessary to limit CO2 emissions.
Western policymakers have imposed import tariffs to protect markets from the threat of Chinese-subsidized electric vehicles, but American and European manufacturers also face competition from Beijing's gasoline-powered cars in global markets.
Half of global buyers plan to buy a new or used internal combustion car within the next 24 months, an increase of 13 percentage points compared to 2024, according to the report. Preference for battery electric and hybrid vehicles has shrunk by 10 and 5 percentage points, to 14% and 16%, respectively. Among potential green car buyers, 36% are reconsidering or postponing purchases due to geopolitical developments, the data highlights.
Immigrants send money 'more than ever'/ In nine months they bring around 816.45 million euros to the Homeland
Remittances from Albanian emigrants have set another historic record in the third quarter of 2025, reaching 284.7 million euros, according to data from the......
The average salary in Albania reaches 83,300 lekë/ Craftsmen and workers, the surprise of the year. Salary increase over 10%
The average gross monthly salary for salaried employees in Albania reached 83,300 lek during the third quarter of 2025. This figure represents an increase of......
Ibrahimaj: Albania's economic transformation is accelerating, investments, exports and green energy at the center of development
The Minister of Economy and Innovation, Ms. Delina Ibrahimaj, participated today in the panel dedicated to Albania's economic transformation within the......
Tenders, "bonus points" for energy efficiency - Demand for public purchases, cars to be only electric
Institutions will have to respect stronger standards for energy efficiency in public procurement and the purchases they make, according to the changes......
"Albania, ready for high-quality investments" - Prime Minister Rama, promise to foreign investors: Support with fiscal incentives
Prime Minister Edi Rama participated in the "Tirana Economic Forum", from where he invited foreign entrepreneurs to invest in Albania, as there are 4 sectors......
Albanian businesses face the AI era/ EBRD highlights low adoption, but can compensate for workforce decline
The use of artificial intelligence is spreading rapidly in developed economies, while the countries of the Western Balkans, including Albania, continue to......
Albanians, welcoming to foreign workers/Serbia and North Macedonia, skepticism about increasing work permits
The Regional Cooperation Council's Securimeter report sheds light on the perceptions of citizens of six Western Balkan countries regarding policies for......
Olive oil, farmers increase quality - Rrapaj: Indigenous cultivars produce poor yields
Some of the indigenous olive cultivars have not had a good production season this year, and the main contributing factor is drought. In an interview with SCAN......
