The UK Government has reinforced its position on the end of new petrol and diesel car sales, stating that all sales must be phased out by 2030 – with a few new exemptions.
In a new statement highlighting updates to the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate, the Department for Transport has announced exemptions for both hybrid vehicles and smaller, boutique vehicle manufacturers.
Hybrid vehicles, including vans with internal combustion engines (ICE) will now be permitted to be sold until 2035, and all firms will now be granted a greater freedom on how to meet the national target date, with more cars allowed to be sold in years leading up to the final date as demand rises.
Smaller vehicle manufacturers, such as McLaren and Aston Martin, will also be exempt from the mandate.
Further changes to the Mandate also include a boost of 2.3 billion GBP in funding, as well as tax breaks, to aid drivers in making a switch to electric.
In addition to the Mandate, new updates to the ZEV Mandate will allow for extensions for the current ability to borrow in 2024-2026 to enable repayment through to 2030, extend the ability to transfer non-ZEVs to ZEVs from 2024-26 through to 2029 and introduce new flexibility for those looking to transfer from a van to a car.
Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said:Global trade is being transformed so we must go further and faster in reshaping our economy and our country through our Plan for Change.
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. This will help ensure home-grown firms can export British cars built by British workers around the world and the industry can look forward with confidence, as well as back with pride.
And it will boost growth that puts money in working people’s pockets, the first priority of our Plan for Change.
Currently, the Government has declared over 6 billion GBP in private funding ready for investment into the UK’s wider chargepoint roll-out by 2030, further aiming to cement the UK as the largest EV market in Europe.
