The country argues that stricter rules will damage the competitiveness of the European automotive sector.
The Czech Republic, an EU member state with a population of 10.9 million, is heavily dependent on car production and exports to other EU countries.
The country's three major car plants - Volkswagen's Skoda Auto, Toyota and Hyundai - produced almost 1.4 million cars in 2023. That was nearly 10 percent of the country's GDP.
Czech Transport Minister Martin Kupka said Prague would ask the EU to speed up a planned review of its CO2 regulations from 2026 to 2025.
"We need to change the (emissions) limits for 2025. Electric car sales are declining while the EU foresaw a rising curve and based its emissions limits on it," Kupka said.
He explained that penalties for non-compliance would prevent carmakers from investing in development, hurting them relative to their competitors in China or the US.
Kupka said Prague would invite ministers from other EU countries and members of the European Parliament to support the drive.
Last month, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) also asked Brussels "to propose urgent measures to alleviate the situation before new CO2 targets for cars and light commercial vehicles come into force in 2025".
Europe is racing to produce more electric vehicles as part of its green transition as the clock ticks down to the EU's deadline to phase out the sale of fossil fuel-powered cars by 2035.
But after years of growth, electric car sales began to decline in late 2023 and now account for just 12.5% of new cars sold on the continent. | BGNES
