Geopolitical factors influencing the rightsizing of combustion engines

Just a year ago, there were suggestions and even demands about the "death of the combustion engine." Such considerations were conducted in both the fields of science and engineering, where the prospects of electric drive dominance in the next 10-30 years were highlighted. Only a few exceptions supported a moderate approach to the issue of phasing out the combustion engine. Some individuals personally paid the price with their positions for the delay in implementing the so-called zero-emission drives. Today, as the pace of electric vehicle purchases has significantly slowed, and fans of many brands express a desire to stick with combustion engines, and as more factories are struggling to maintain production, it is crucial to thoroughly reassess opinions on propulsion, modern technologies, and legal regulations. Compromise seems to be the downsizing technology of the internal combustion engine as an independent drive or in a hybrid system aligned with the rightsizing development trend. The article aims to present various perspectives on the application of rightsizing in relation to technique, legal issues, ecology, and economy, as well as social connections between different automotive groups and regions throughout the world.