The five-year delay to the ban on petrol and diesel car sales is a huge victory for the Mail’s Rethink The 2030 Petrol Car Ban campaign.
The ban will now come into force from 2035 and Rishi Sunak stressed the second-hand petrol and diesel market will still be allowed to thrive.
The decision – bringing the UK into line with EU deadlines – was welcomed by some car makers, drivers’ groups and small businesses.
There was a positive reaction from Jaguar Land Rover, which employs 30,000 at its UK plants and has committed £15billion over the next five years towards producing electric vehicles.
It said: ‘The announcement by the Government on the revised end date for the sale of petrol and diesel cars in the UK is pragmatic and brings the UK in line with other nations, which we welcome.’
There was a positive reaction from Jaguar Land Rover, which employs 30,000 at its UK plants and has committed £15billion over the next five years towards producing electric vehicles. Pictured: Rishi Sunak shakes hands with staff during visit to Jaguar Land Rover in Warwickshire
Toyota, which has plants in Burnaston, Derbyshire, and Deeside, north Wales, followed Jaguar Land Rover in embracing the ‘pragmatic move’
Toyota, which has plants in Burnaston, Derbyshire, and Deeside, north Wales, followed Jaguar Land Rover in embracing the ‘pragmatic move’, saying the announcement gives the industry the ‘clarity’ it has been asking for.
FairFuelUK, the drivers’ campaign group, also welcomed the delay. Founder Howard Cox said: ‘I am delighted common sense has prevailed, and the PM has listened to overwhelming majority of people, FairFuelUK and the Mail.
‘Sunak’s recognition that the 2030 ban would be damaging to the economy, his voters and would deliver negligible impact on saving the planet is indeed very pragmatic and welcome.’
Tina McKenzie of the Federation of Small Businesses, said that while some firms would be disappointed, there was some relief for smaller firms. ‘There are significant concerns among small firms around the availability of suitable vehicles, either new or second-hand,’ she said. ‘The charging infrastructure is also not where it needs to be in order to ensure no business is left behind.’
But some manufacturers argued that the delay has created uncertainty for their electric car ambitions. Lisa Brankin, the chairman of Ford, said: ‘Our business needs three things from the UK Government – ambition, commitment, and consistency. A relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three.’
Ford has already invested £430million in readying its UK plants to produce electric cars.
Ian Plummer, a former Renault and Volkswagen executive who is commercial director at online marketplace AutoTrader, said: ‘This U-turn will cause a huge headache for manufacturers, who are crying out for clarity and consistency. And it is hardly going to encourage the vast majority of drivers who are yet to buy an electric car to make the switch.’
Mike Hawes, of the Society of Motor Manufactures and Traders, said the backtrack was ‘incredibly confusing’ for consumers.
The Daily Mail began campaigning for a rethink over the 2030 ban after the cost of insuring an electric car surged 60 per cent this year and charges rose 20 per cent at some on-street connectors. There are also wider concerns that Britain does not have the adequate charging infrastructure.
