What does delay on petrol and diesel car ban mean for you?
RISHI Sunak announced the ban on new petrol and diesel cars will be delayed to 2035.
In a speech from Downing Street today, the Prime Minister said he believes that the UK needs to change direction.
Among a raft of measures, Mr Sunak said he would put back a ban on new fossil fuel cars in a major U-turn, replacing the previous deadline of 2030.
He also said such vehicles will still be able to be sold second-hand after that date.
Mr Sunak said: "To give us more time to prepare, I'm announcing today that we're going to ease the transition to electric vehicles.
"You'll still be able to buy petrol and diesel cars and vans until 2035.
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"Even after that, you will still be able to buy and sell them second-hand."
The PM added it should be the "consumer" that makes the choice - for now - on whether to switch to an electric car.
On electric vehicles, he said: "I expect that by 2030, the vast majority of cars sold will be electric.
"Why? Because the costs are reducing, the range is improving, the charging infrastructure is growing.
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"People are already choosing electric vehicles to such an extent that we're registering a new one every 60 seconds.
"But I also think that at least for now, it should be you, the consumer that makes that choice, not Government forcing you to do it, because the upfront cost still is high, especially for families struggling with the cost of living.
"Small businesses are worried about the practicalities. And we have got further to go to get the charging infrastructure truly nationwide and we need to strengthen our own auto industry, so we aren't reliant on heavily subsidised carbon intensive imports from countries like China."
Labour pledged to retain the 2030 target for electric cars if it wins the next election.
The policy change alarmed the car industry, which has invested on the basis of a 2030 shift away from petrol and diesel.
Ford UK chairwoman Lisa Brankin said: "Our business needs three things from the UK Government: ambition, commitment and consistency.
"A relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three."
In a speech in Downing Street, he announced plans to…
- DELAY ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035
- DELAY ban on gas boilers until 2035, with poorest exempt from switching altogether
- BOOST cash grants for household boiler upgrades by 50 per cent to £7,500
- SCRAP proposed taxes on eating meat
- SCRAP proposed taxes on flying
- SCRAP a proposed edict forcing people to sort rubbish into seven different bins
- SCRAP a proposed diktat for compulsory car sharing if you drive to work
- ENSURE new carbon budgets are properly funded
- LAUNCH new energy infrastructure plan to make Britain self-reliant