BRITAIN will press ahead with banning new petrol and diesel cars despite Europe preparing to ditch its own plans.
Downing Street said it remained “committed” to phasing out all new non-zero emission car and van sales by 2035 and that there was “no change” in policy.
Brussels had also planned to outlaw combustion engines by the middle of the next decade but is now lining up a climbdown after heavy lobbying from Germany and Italy.
Manfred Weber, head of the biggest group in the European Parliament, declared yesterday: “The end of combustion engines is history.”
He added: “Good news for the automotive industry and millions of employees.”
Former Aston Martin boss Dr Andy Palmer warned Britain would struggle to go it alone because of how closely its car market is tied to Europe.
He said: “It becomes very difficult because if the EU drops their ban the factories there won’t ramp up their EV production in the way forecast.
“There wouldn’t be enough EVs to meet the demand required in the UK.”
UK carmakers are already struggling under green rules that require more than a quarter of new cars sold this year to be electric, rising sharply by 2030.
A review of the measures had been pencilled in for 2027, but a senior source at one of the UK’s biggest car manufacturers told The Times it is “inevitable” the date would have to be brought forward as a result of the EU’s shift in position.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “We remain committed to phasing out all new non-zero emission car and van sales by 2035.
“More drivers than ever are choosing electric, and November saw another month of increased sales with EV’s accounting for one in four cars sold.”
