The government confirmed that the end of sale date for conventional petrol and diesel vehicles would be pushed back to 2035, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)1. The trade body said consumers could continue to buy new pure petrol and diesel cars and vans up until that date, and second hand vehicles beyond it1.
The SMMT, which had opened the week with a sold-out Electrified conference, said the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate would remain, but that as its newsletter was issued the details and the regulation remained outstanding1. The mandate was described by the SMMT as designed to transform the UK's new car and van markets by 2030, and as likely to take effect in just over 100 days1. The SMMT said it still expected the government response and the regulation imminently, and that it could not afford further delay and uncertainty1.
"On Wednesday, we had confirmation, the date would indeed be pushed back to 2035"
The SMMT said two thirds of private buyers told its survey they were keen to get into an electric vehicle, but more than half said concerns over affordability and charging accessibility meant they would not be ready until 2026 or later1. It said its call was for greater support for the private electric vehicle consumer, for whom there are currently no incentives1. The SMMT also said it needed to know what could be sold between 2030 and 2035, as the consultation described vehicles with "Significant Zero Emission Capability"1.
A month later, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Electric Vehicles met on Tuesday 24 October to discuss the decision, with representatives from the REA, FairCharge and the Fully Charged SHOW2. The REA, which acts as secretariat for the group, said the session gave MPs across the political divide the chance to understand the impact of their words on industry, through the results of its poll which highlighted significant market uncertainty stemming from the Prime Minister's speech2. The group backed the #StopBurningStuff initiative, launched by FairCharge and Robert Llewellyn's Fully Charged SHOW to counter anti-EV rhetoric2.
Matt Western, chair of the APPG on Electric Vehicles and Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington, said the change was disastrous for consumers who want to do the right thing but are now unsure of whether to buy, and for manufacturers that need certainty before making major investment decisions2. The REA said it was hopeful the information would help inform MPs' voting decisions before the 2035 date is voted on later this year2. The government's 30-point plan for drivers, which includes policies on electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, said it would work with industry to myth-bust concerns about EVs2.
Why it matters for households
The end of sale date for new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans now sits at 2035 rather than 20301. The SMMT states that new pure petrol and diesel cars and vans can be bought until that date, and second hand vehicles beyond it1. That distinction matters for anyone weighing a purchase: the change concerns new vehicle sales, not the continued use or resale of existing vehicles.
The mandate that requires manufacturers to sell a rising share of zero emission vehicles remains in place, but the regulation setting out its details had not been published when the SMMT wrote1. The SMMT said it was seeking clarity on what could be sold between 2030 and 20351. Until that is settled, the mix of models available to buyers in the second half of the decade is not fully defined.
On charging and cost, the SMMT's survey found two thirds of private buyers were keen on an electric vehicle, while more than half said affordability and charging accessibility concerns meant they would not be ready until 2026 or later1. The SMMT said there are currently no incentives for the private electric vehicle consumer1. For a household, the practical questions are the price of the vehicle, the cost of charging at home or on the road, and whether local charging is adequate. The SMMT said rapid rollout of charging infrastructure nationwide was needed1. FairCharge's Quentin Willson framed the transition in terms of moving Britain towards energy independence free from fossil fuel dependency2.
What happens next
The government response and the mandate regulation were expected imminently as of 22 September 2023, and remained outstanding at that point1. The REA said the 2035 date is to be voted on later this year2. The SMMT's next event, its Global Trade Conference, takes place online on Wednesday 18 October1.