The ban on new petrol car sales will now be formally made into law at an upcoming ministerial meeting, despite opposition from conservative MEPs, the parliament's biggest group.
The landmark rules require that by 2035 carmakers achieve a 100 per cent cut in CO2 emissions from new cars sold, which would make it impossible to sell new fossil fuel-powered vehicles in the 27-country bloc.
The law also set a 55 per cent cut in CO2 emissions for new cars sold from 2030 compared to 2021 levels, raising the existing target of a 37.5 per cent decrease.
The law passed the Strasbourg assembly by 340 votes to 279, with 21 abstentions. The legislation is a vital part of the EU's target of achieving net zero by 2050 and supporting the production of electric vehicles.
Moreover, supporters of the bill had argued that the law would give European carmakers a clear timeframe in which to switch production to EVs.
"Today's vote is a historic vote for the ecological...