Almost all brand-new petrol and diesel cars will not be sold in the UK within a matter of years after Labour recommitted to a 2030 phase-out date for combustion vehicles. By the end of the decade, only hybrid cars and smaller manufacturers with limited stock will be allowed to produce petrol and diesel machines with almost all top brands told to switch exclusively to EVs.
Labour made the petrol and diesel car ban a key part of their manifesto commitments and has since doubled down on the plan. It came after the Conservatives under Rishi Sunak delayed the ban until 2035 to allow more of a transition for such a major change. Confirmation that the petrol and diesel ban would go ahead in 2030 came in January with Transport Minister Heidi Alexander unveiling the timeline.
She said: “Our plans will restore clarity for manufacturers, provide renewed confidence for charging infrastructure investors and give confidence to consumers considering making the switch. No new petrol or diesel cars will be sold after 2030. All new cars and vans will need to be 100% zero-emission by 2035.”
Ms Alexander claimed the previous Conservative Government had caused “significant harm to the industry” by “moving goalposts on phase-out dates”. The Minister claimed this had created doubt in the minds of investors and boardrooms and put billions of pounds of investment at risk.
Then in April, Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled his plan to support carmakers with updates to Zero Emission mandate rules and a confirmation of the 2030 phase-out date.
Mr Starmer explained: “I am determined to back British brilliance. Now more than ever UK businesses and working people need a government that steps up, not stands aside. That means action, not words. So today I am announcing bold changes to the way we support our car industry.”
A previous YouGov poll found the issue of a petrol and diesel ban was highly contentious with 50% agreeing with the Conseravtive’s decision to delay the ban to 2035. Meanwhile, just 34% said they somewhat or stronly opposed the move at the time.
In their manifesto, Labour had committed to supporting the transition to electric vehicles by accelerating the roll-out of charge points. They had also pledged to give certainty to manufacturers by “restoring the phase-out date of 2030 for new cars with internal combustion engines”.
Another manifesto pledge was to support the buyers of used electric cars by standardising the information around the condition of batteries.
Ms Alexander added: “The need to transition away from a reliance on fossil fuels has never been clearer, and the transition to zero-emission vehicles will play a critical role in quickly reducing carbon emissions and improving our energy security. It is not just an environmental necessity but an opportunity for the UK to lead in cutting-edge technologies.”
