Earlier this year, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “We will always back British business. In the face of global economic challenges and stifled by a lack of certainty and direction for too long, our automotive industry deserves clarity, ambition and leadership. That is exactly what we are delivering today.
“Our ambitious package of strengthening reforms will protect and create jobs – making the UK a global automotive leader in the switch to EVs – all the while meeting our core manifesto commitment to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030.”
However, Labour were forced to make a range of concessions to help manufacturers better prepare for the new limits. Officials have increased the flexibility of the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate up to 2030.
Instead of strict annual targets, the updates mean that more cars can be sold in later years when demand for EVs is likely to be higher. Meanwhile, Labour has decided to allow hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota Prius and Nissan e-Power to be sold until 2035.
Small volume manufacturers, defined as those producing fewer than 2,500 vehicles annually are exempt from the 2030 deadline. It means many of the UK’s most iconic manufacturers will actually still be able to sell petrol and diesel cars until at least 2035.
However, despite plans to push forward with the 2030 rule, some experts are less convinced. Wheeler Dealers star Mike Brewer is among those who claim the rule will have to be pushed backwards after claiming the UK is not yet prepared.
He told Express.co.uk: “It will have to be kicked down the road to 2035 and the next Government it will be 2040. We are not ready, although we do have electric cars coming into the mainstream, they are more and more and becoming prolific, they are still only about 15% of sales at the moment are electric. It’s just not enough. So we are still not ready.”