Politics · Germany · 11 hrs ago
German environment minister says combustion cars will become a hobby
Germany’s environment minister, Carsten Schneider, says combustion cars will eventually be used mainly as a hobby.
He and his family still drive a 13-year-old diesel, which he says he will keep using because he does not need a new car now.
For his next purchase, Schneider says an electric car is the rational choice.
He believes electric cars will gain ground regardless of political rules and says he is less concerned about changes to the planned phase-out of combustion engines.
He warns carmakers against investing more heavily in combustion models, arguing that backing older technology will not pay off.
In October 2026, electric cars made up 37 percent of Germany’s 254,492 new car registrations.
Schneider says he will not support special protection for combustion engines, but no further policy steps are described.
German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider said combustion-engine cars will eventually be used mainly as a hobby.
He said buyers needing a new car should choose an electric vehicle.
Schneider said he and his family currently drive a 13-year-old diesel because they do not need a new car.
He predicted electric cars would prevail regardless of political requirements.
He warned automakers that renewed investment in combustion models was unlikely to pay off.
- Who
- German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, of the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
- What
- He said combustion-engine cars would eventually become a hobby and endorsed switching to electric cars.
- When
- The interview was published on 8 November 2026; the interview date is not stated.
- Where
- The interview was with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung; Schneider’s location is not stated.
- Why
- Schneider said electric mobility would prevail and that choosing an electric car would be the rational decision when buying a new vehicle.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
254,492 passenger cars were newly registered in Germany, 37 percent of them electric cars, according to the Federal Motor Transport Authority.
Bild published its report on Schneider’s comments and his privately used 13-year-old diesel.
- Minister
- Carsten Schneider, SPD
- Private car
- 13-year-old diesel
- Electric share of new registrations
- 37 percent in October 2026
- New passenger-car registrations
- 254,492 in Germany in October 2026
What people are saying
Die Zeit wird kommen, wo der Verbrenner allenfalls noch ein Hobby sein wird.
Ich brauche gerade keinen Neuwagen. Aber wenn ein Neukauf ansteht, ist es die rationale Entscheidung, auf ein Elektroauto umzusteigen.
Die Wette auf das Alte wird sich nicht auszahlen.