France to ban sales of fossil fuel vehicles by 2040

The plan was first proposed in 2017.

France confirmed on Tuesday that it's moving forward with a plan to ban the sale of all gas- and diesel-powered vehicles by the year 2040.

The fossil fuel ban was originally proposed in July 2017 by then environmental minister Nicolas Hulot. However, Hulot had a falling out with French president Emmanuel Macron over a lack of commitment to environmental issues and resigned in September 2018, leaving the future of the proposal up in the air. But even without Hulot at the helm, it looks as though France will move forward with the fossil fuel ban.

"Since the start of Emmanuel Macron's term, our target is the climate plan that Nicolas Hulot announced in the summer of 2017. We will now inscribe this target into law,” Transport Minister Elizabeth Borne said, according to Reuters.

The proposed law is currently being debated in parliament and is expected to be passed by the end of the summer. France has committed to helping its auto industry -- which includes PSA and Renault -- to transition from gas- and diesel-powered vehicles to alternative energy sources like electric and hydrogen.