Could there come a day when gasoline and diesel engines become relics of the past, much like horses, which were once the world’s primary means of transportation? That’s the question Volkswagen is raising, suggesting that electric vehicles may not need bans alone to prevail, but rather widespread public conviction that they are the better choice.
Although electric vehicles are still far from dominating the market, their presence continues to grow steadily. In Europe, EVs accounted for 20.9% of new car registrations during the first four months of 2026, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). While significant, this figure also highlights that the transition to electric mobility still has a long way to go.
From Volkswagen’s perspective, the debate surrounding bans on the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles misses the heart of the issue. Rather than asking when consumers will stop buying gasoline-powered cars, the more important question is why they would choose an electric vehicle in the first place.
Martin Sander, Volkswagen’s Board Member for Sales, Marketing, and After Sales, believes that forced change does not create genuine conviction. Drivers who have spent decades relying on gasoline and diesel engines are unlikely to switch simply because regulations pressure them to do so. Instead, they need an alternative that proves itself in everyday life.
Sander compares the shift toward electrification to the early days of the automobile industry, when motor vehicles gradually replaced horses. Horses did not disappear overnight, nor did people suddenly decide to abandon them. Over time, however, they discovered that cars were faster, easier, and more practical for transportation.
This analogy forms the basis of Volkswagen’s argument. Gasoline-powered vehicles may eventually face a similar fate, not solely because they are banned, but because consumers may come to view electric vehicles as the more logical choice.
Sander’s comments were made in the context of the European Union’s previous plan to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles from 2035 onward. That proposal faced significant resistance from the automotive industry, leading the EU to soften its stance.
Even if some gasoline and diesel vehicles remain on sale beyond the middle of the next decade, their future in Europe appears increasingly limited, particularly as the EU aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from automakers’ fleets by 90% by 2035 compared with 2021 levels.
Volkswagen believes that accelerating EV adoption requires practical measures rather than slogans. These include expanding charging infrastructure, reducing energy costs, and offering vehicles that convince customers through real-world benefits rather than regulations alone.
At the same time, internal combustion engines are unlikely to disappear anytime soon. Sales of traditional vehicles still help fund the development of future electric models, while profit margins on EVs remain relatively modest for many manufacturers. Extinction may eventually come, but it is unlikely to happen overnight.
