POLL: Should Labour scrap its 2030 petrol and diesel cars ban? Vote here

Whilst sales of are continuing to grow, with a quarter of all sold in November 2024 being EVs, some motoring experts have called for to .

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the (SMMT) was one supporter of change, stating that the Government’s mandate should without putting strain on retailers.

He explained: “We need an urgent review of the automotive market and the regulation intended to drive it. Not because we want to water down any commitments, but because delivery matters more than notional targets.

“The industry is hurting; profitability and viability are in jeopardy and jobs are on the line. When the world changes, so must we. Workable regulation – backed with incentives – will set us up for success and green growth over the next decade.”

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Under the current system, the Government plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel models by 2030, with plug-in hybrid cars remaining on sale for a further five years.

In order to achieve this, the previous Government imposed a quota, requiring at least 20 percent of new cars sold by each manufacturer to be electric. Companies who do not achieve the quota will face a fine of £15,000 for each non-electric model outstanding.

The SMMT noted that this has led to car manufacturers spending a combined total of £4 billion discounting electric models to increase demand, yet will still face an estimated £1.8 billion in fines.

A growing number of car companies have announced job cuts within the UK in recent months, citing the current electric vehicle mandate as a partial factor.

This includes the Stellantis-owned Vauxhall, who are set to close the Luton factory that has been used by the company for nearly 120 years and is currently used to build the Vivaro van.

In November 2024, Ford also stated that 800 jobs would be cut within the UK by the end of 2027, with slow uptake of electric models such as the Mustang Mach-E and Capri to blame. 

However, not all motoring experts are in favour of the Government’s decision to relax the mandate surrounding the roll out of electric models. James Court, Public Policy Director at noted that the recent spike in sales is a .

He added: “The ZEV mandate is working; 25% of new car sales were electric last month and we can’t let this momentum slip.

“Drivers and investors need certainty to build confidence in our transition to clean, cheap driving and with clear and bold policy the UK can position itself as a world leader for EVs – creating green jobs, saving drivers cash and cleaning our local air for future generations.” 

Now Express.co.uk is asking its readers what they think about this policy. Should the Labour Government scrap its 2030 diesel and petrol car ban?