The ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 is being maintained, but the government has relaxed the rules that manufacturers are required to meet.
The ban was introduced in 2020 as a way to decarbonise Britain’s road transport and encourage the industry to shift production over to electric vehicles (EVs).
But while sales of EVs have consistently been growing in the UK and across the world, they have not reached the levels hoped for. In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump introduced a 25% levy on imported cars, serving as another blow to British car makers.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has now increased the flexibility of the mandate for manufacturers up to 2030, so that more cars can be sold in later years when demand is higher. It will also allow hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius and Nissan e-Power, to be sold until 2035 to make it an easier transition and give industry more time to prepare.
The previous Conservative government under Rishi Sunak had already...