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UK Government Pushes Back Ban on New Petrol and Diesel Cars to 2035
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Categories Automotive Industry » Electric Vehicles (EVs) »
Since 2020, car manufacturers and motorists across the country have been preparing themselves for an upcoming ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars that was set to come into force in 2030.
While the ban was still a number of years away, more and more people were making the transition to electric vehicles, with 2022 seeing more than a quarter of all car sales in the UK being purchases of EVs.
Demand has continued to soar in 2023 in anticipation of the law change, and here at The Windscreen Company we’d even put together a helpful ‘Road to 2035’ guide detailing all of the changes.
But this has all changed with the latest announcement from the government that the ban will now be delayed until 2035.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what the change will mean for both consumers and manufacturers.
Back in 2020, then Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that from 2030, there would be a ban on the sale of all new petrol and diesel vehicles. While second-hand fuel vehicles would still be able to be purchased, there would be no new versions on British roads.
This decision was made following extensive discussions and consultations with manufacturers and sellers, as the country aimed to meet its 2050 net zero targets. It was thought that this would accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, removing a significant number of petrol and diesel cars from the roads; one of the biggest polluters in the country.
Reducing emissions to net zero by 2050 is thought to be one of the main ways of tackling climate change, as countries around the world attempt to limit the average rise in global temperature to 1.5˚C.
Now the ban has been pushed back to 2035.
In September 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a delay in the policy that would see the ban on new petrol and diesel cars pushed back five years to 2035.
Sunak said that by 2035, he expects most people will already be driving an electric vehicle and that, for now at least, the decision should be down to the consumer rather than being government mandated. He also said that the UK needs ‘sensible green leadership’ and that the country is still well on course to meet its 2050 net zero target despite the delay on the petrol and diesel car ban.
The move sees the UK move in line with the European Union, which has its own ban on new petrol and diesel vehicle sales coming in 2035.
From manufacturers, the announcement of the policy change has been mixed. Some companies have heavily criticised the government’s move, saying it creates instability and confusion for consumers, whereas others think it is the right move.
Ford has been the biggest industry critic of the decision, after it invested more than £400m in upgrading its UK factory in order to ensure it could produce enough electric vehicles to hit the 2030 deadline.
Its UK chair Lisa Brankin said 2030 was “a vital catalyst to accelerate Ford into a cleaner future” and that “Our business needs three things from the UK government: ambition, commitment, and consistency. A relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three.”
The RAC described the delay as “disappointing” and would slow down the momentum on EV production, while Stellantis, the owners of Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat, said they wouldn’t be selling any petrol and diesel vehicles in the UK or Europe from 2030 onwards irrespective of government bans.
On the other hand, Toyota has welcomed the move saying a longer deadline will help their operations, and Jaguar Land Rover said it was: “pragmatic and brings the UK in line with other nations, which we welcome”.
And unsurprisingly, the reaction from climate charities and eco-groups has been universally negative.
At The Windscreen Company, we provide leading windscreen services on vehicles of all types. This includes an electric and hybrid windscreen repair and replacement service that will keep your EV safe when out on the road.
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