The UK government is giving carmakers eight weeks to submit views on the phase-out of new gasoline and diesel cars, as ministers consider easing sales quotas that electric vehicle manufacturers are struggling to hit.
The Department for Transport has committed to removing combustion engine cars from sale by 2030, but is now asking the industry whether its plan to meet that goal is viable. The consultation will ask whether “flexibilities” baked into the current system are working properly to support manufacturers.
The consultation comes amid fierce industry criticism of the government’s sales quotas for zero-emission vehicles-introduced by Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s administration – which include fines for manufacturers that fall short. Labour Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said last month the quotas, which require 22% of new cars and 10% of new vans sold by each manufacturer this year to be zero-emission, are not working as planned.
Despite heavy discounting, manufacturers are struggling to meet the quotas – electric vehicles accounted for 18.7% of the UK car market between January and November.
