The country will end sales of gasoline and diesel vehicles by 2040, French Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot announced this week. That would mean its streets will be mostly clear of smog-belching cars by around 2055.

The decision — which Hulot called “a veritable revolution” — came a day after Swedish car manufacturer Volvo promised to launch only electric and hybrid models starting in 2019. France joins India, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway in plans to ban combustion-powered vehicles.

The move is part of a bigger push…