Europe’s car makers will not challenge the decision to ban petrol and diesel vehicles despite slowing demand for new electric models.
The UK and the European Union plan to end the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035 in a push to lower emissions.
Manufacturers have invested heavily in electric technology with some companies turning their sole focus to producing EVs.
However, there are fears momentum is falling as sales in the UK and Europe begin to slowly stagnate.
Despite concerns, European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) president Luca de Meo said manufacturers would not question decisions and would simply press ahead.
He explained that the motor industry’s position is “not to argue against the regulation”.
Instead, Mr De Meo, also the CEO of Renault, said firms “must get down to it” to meet the expectations.
It comes amid companies starting to turn their backs on EVs as more firms change previous targets. Mercedes-Benz is the latest major car manufacturer to announce a pullback on electric car goals.
The German marque had hoped 50 percent of their car sales would be hybrid and electric cars by 2025 but have now pushed this target back to the second half of the decade.
It comes after Ford cut back pricing of the F-150 Lightning electric pick-up truck while General Motors also changed previous targets.
The UK continues to sell more electric cars with a 21 percent rise in January 2024, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
But, sales were higher among fleets than private buyers with the public recording a 15.8 percent drop in sales across all fuel types
At the end of 2023, electric car sales in Europe suffered their first fall since April 2020 in a major blow.
Figures showed a staggering 16.9 percent reduction in the sale of battery electric vehicles in December with just 160,700 models left forecourts.
In Britain, manufacturers must follow strict Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate rules by selling a certain number of electric models every year.
In 2024 each brand has to ensure that 22 percent of their new car sales produce no emissions at the tailpipe.
Any brand which fails to comply with this target could be hit by massive financial penalties.
