► Labour moves to reinstate 2030 petrol and diesel car ban
► Consultation launched with the auto industry
► Still unknown as to what, if any, hybrids can be sold until 2035
The government has opened a consultation into banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, reversing the earlier 2035 date implemented by the previous Conservative government.
In a written statement to Parliament, transport minister Heidi Alexander said Labour wanted to ‘restore clarity’ for the automotive industry after the ‘previous government had caused significant harm’ by moving the date of the ban from 2035 to 2030.
Alexander, MP for Swindon South, said: “This consultation marks a new phase of collaboration between the government and the automotive and charging sectors as we support and work together with industry to grasp the opportunities of this ambitious and transformative shift – ensuring the prosperity and security of our nation, with higher growth, better jobs, and cheaper bills. This transformation is a challenge we can meet by working together.”
Let’s take a look at what we know so far.
So does this mean that no new petrol or diesel cars can be sold after 2030?
As part of this government consultation, it says it is an opportunity for the industry to express their preferences on the ‘types of vehicles permitted between 2030 and 2035 alongside EVs’. But by 2035 it says ‘all new cars and vans will need to be 100 per cent zero emissions’.
What this means is that you won’t be able to buy a new conventional petrol or diesel car without any hybrid assistance, but some hybrid vehicles might be permitted after this date until 2035. That said, the statement contains no mention of hybrid vehicles, so it’s unknown what type of hybrid, if any, the government will allow to be sold between 2030 and 2035. Clarity is desperately needed here for the industry.
What does this mean for the UK’s automotive industry?
It was known that Labour was looking to bring forward the petrol and diesel car ban, and this letter to parliament, now brings further certainty that it is their intention. The statement makes it clear that it wants to offer clarity to the industry, which is in a state of flux as it works to bring EVs to market that customers don’t necessarily want to buy, in order to meet targets.
While the industry will welcome certainty when the consultation comes to a close and a decision is made, it continues to leave key UK automotive manufacturers in limbo. Toyota’s factory in Burnaston, Derbyshire, exclusively makes self-charging hybrid models with its Corolla, and it’s yet to announce any plans to begin producing EVs.
Nissan’s Sunderland plant, the largest car manufacturing facility in the UK, primarily produces petrol and hybrid models with its Juke and Qashqai, though has committed to a significant redevelopment of its factories in the North East to make electric cars.
But the confirmation that Labour wants to move to the 2030 petrol and diesel van date brings further confirmation that Stellantis’ plan to close its van-making Luton factory is all but guaranteed. Top bosses at the automotive group have long called for clarity from government, both past and present.
What about the ZEV mandate?
As well as looking at the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, this consultation also looks at the controversial ZEV mandate, which requires manufacturers to sell a certain percentage of EVs, otherwise they face steep fines for not complying.
Each manufacturer was required to hit a 22 per cent share of their new car sales to be electric in 2024 – a figure that only 36 per cent of manufacturers achieved last year. Of the 10 biggest car brands in the UK, only three managed to achieve a 22 per cent share, while others (such as Ford and Toyota with only an eight per cent EV) share languished far behind. Despite this, the Department for Transport (DfT) has said that it’s ““confident the whole market has complied” and “no manufacturer will need to pay fines” because of the flexibilities built into the scheme.
The government is now seeking views from the industry on the existing flexibilities to the ZEV mandate and what else can be charged.