Hybrids are expected to be reprieved from Labour Government planned changes to their automotive policy.
Before the General Election, Labour pledged to end sales of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 but now they have diverted their drive to extend the life of hybrids until 2035.
Manufacturers, dealers, motoring organisations and the public have voiced concerns over the cut off date and introduction of electric only models, citing slow sales and a a scattered charging network which would disproportionately hit those least able to buy evs in the Labour heartlands of the North and Wales.
The 2030 outright ban on any new car powered by an internal combustion engine was a key pledge in Labour’s election manifesto, and was all part of a plan to reach next zero.
It would mean that unlike pure petrol and diesel cars, hybrids would be allowed to remain on sale until 2035. A key driver in Labour’s new coldness towards the policy is a Europe-wide slowdown in electric vehicles, and lobbying from the UK’s manufacturing industry.
Quoted by the Telegraph, Helen Whately, the Conservatives’ shadow transport secretary, said Labour ‘either didn’t know what they were committing to’ during the election campaign ‘or have now realised it isn’t possible’.
A Labour source told the Telegraph last week that it was always the party’s policy to allow some hybrids to remain on sale past 2030.
A government spokesperson said, ‘This government’s policy has always been to revert to the original 2030 phase out date for the sale of new vehicles with pure internal combustion engines. The original phase out date included the provision for some hybrid vehicle sales between 2030 and 2035. We will set out further details on this in due course.”
The decision could finally bring some clarity over the rules which have caused headaches in the car industry.
In July, the Society of Motor Manufacturers warned carmakers were worried that the Labour plan would mean ‘a complete end of everything that has a tailpipe’.
While it’s thought Labour has cooled on its intentions to introduce an outright ban for 2030, it believed ministers won’t make any changes to the current ZEV mandate to force carmakers to sell 80% pure electric cars in 2030 ahead of a 100% quota in 2035 is expected to remain.
The government is expected to carry out a consultation on hybrids and publish clarity about which models – whether they be ‘mild’ hybrids or plug-in hybrids – would qualify for sale in the final five years.
This week, Jaguar said its dealers would have no cars to sell from November until 2026 and would face a “tough year”. The car maker has been very slow to move into electric models and intends to become an ev-only brand but has lacked the engineering and manufacturing capacity to make it happen before 2026.
Their dealerships will also be slimmed down to fit in with the expected fall in sales and concentrate on locations which will have a strong demand for their high priced models.
In the meantime, the company will rely on sales of new generation Land Rover and Range Rover models to earn income for them and their dealer network. They are also developing a plan to handle servicing for current petrol and diesel Jaguars over coming years.
Volvo has also rolled back its pure-ev plans due to falling sales and dealer dissatisfaction.
