UK plans ban sale of polluting cars after 2035

The UK government announced on Tuesday that it intends to target all polluting cars in a ban that will phase out the sales of such models.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the government's plans were subject to consultation and that he would be looking for the ban to come into force earlier “if a faster transition is feasible.”

The move is part of a broad target to bring down the emissions to net zero by 2050 and will force consumers and businesses to buy electric or hydrogen powered cars.

It was previously planned that the phasing out of polluting vehicles would happen by 2040, with Tuesday's announcement bringing forward that deadline by five years.

The ban of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars will forbid their sale by 2035, but the auto industry said it is an unworkable target.

The chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Mike Hawes said: “It’s extremely concerning that government has seemingly moved the goalposts for consumers and industry on such a critical issue. Manufacturers are fully invested in a zero emissions future, with some 60 plug-in models now on the market and 34 more coming in 2020.

“However, with current demand for this still expensive technology still just a fraction of sales, it’s clear that accelerating an already very challenging ambition will take more than industry investment. This is about market transformation, yet we still don’t have clarity on the future of the plug-in car grant - the most significant driver of EV uptake - which ends in just 60 days’ time, while the UK’s charging network is still woefully inadequate.”

He added that the industry needs a competitive marketplace to meet those targets and a competitive business environment to encourage manufacturers to sell and build in the UK.

“A date without a plan will merely destroy value today. So we therefore need to hear how government plans to fulfil its ambitions in a sustainable way, one that safeguards industry and jobs, allows people from all income groups and regions to adapt and benefit, and, crucially, does not undermine sales of today’s low emission technologies, including popular hybrids, all of which are essential to deliver air quality and climate change goals now.”