German car manufacturer Opel, part of the Stellantis Group, has cancelled its plans to sell only electric vehicles in Europe from 2028.

The Rüsselsheim-based German company said on Monday that it will continue to rely on its current “multi-energy” strategy, delivering vehicles powered by batteries, plug-in hybrids, or combustion engines, until customer demand changes.

No time limit anymore

“This does not have to be limited to 2028 if the demand side requires otherwise,” the carmaker said in a statement after media reports of the change in strategy. CEO Florian Huettl had announced the 2028 target date for phasing out sales of combustion engines in Europe in 2023.

Huettl will remain Opel’s CEO in the future. The supervisory board of Opel Automobile GmbH has extended the contract of the 48-year-old by another three years. Huettl has been at the helm of the Opel and Vauxhall brands since June 2022 and has also led Stellantis’ activities in Germany since December 2024.

Financial worries

However, Opel, as mentioned, a subsidiary of the multinational automotive giant Stellantis, which is also facing financial difficulties, has seen its profitability decline in recent years. At the same time, plans for a large battery cell plant at the firm’s site in Kaiserslautern have been put on hold.

Nevertheless, the carmaker is still seeking to push ahead with electric vehicles, amid positive signals from the EU market and political support measures in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.

The company states that it is ready for electrified mobility and highlights that it is the first German manufacturer to offer a fully electrified model portfolio on the market.