UK to Allow Sale of Combustion Cars Until 2030 to Counter Tariffs

The UK Government has relaxed its electric vehicle regulations this Monday to provide greater flexibility to vehicle manufacturers in order to withstand the impact of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

The Labour Government intends to support this package of measures with a 'modern Industrial Strategy', "which will be fully published this spring" and will help British companies harness "the potential of future industries".

Thus, the flexibility of the mandate for manufacturers will be increased until 2030, allowing more cars to be sold in later years when demand is higher. It also seeks to allow hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius and Nissan e-Power, to be sold until 2035 to facilitate the transition and give the industry more time to prepare.

It will also aim to boost the demand for electric vehicles, in addition to the £2.3 billion ($2.69 billion) that the British Government claims to be spending on boosting British manufacturing and improving charging infrastructure, "with a new charging point every half hour".

It will also be supported with tax exemptions worth "hundreds of millions of pounds" to help people switch to electric vehicles. This support for the automotive industry will be kept under review as the impact of the new tariffs becomes clearer, it adds. "This package is the latest in a series of pro-growth measures that the Prime Minister is announcing to counter the impact of new global headwinds and build a strong and resilient economy with more well-paid jobs."

Starmer, for his part, states that global trade "is transforming, so we must move further and faster in reshaping our economy and our country through our Change Plan. I am determined to support British brilliance. Now more than ever, UK businesses and workers need a government that steps up, not stands aside."

The British Department for Transport explains that the phase-out date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars has been set for 2030, while hybrids will be allowed until 2035, and small manufacturers, such as luxury car producer Aston Martin, will be exempt from these targets.

This announcement is the first measure in a series of planned announcements by the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, this week through his 'Plan for Change', in response to global tariffs of up to 25% that President Trump has placed on imports to his country.

Thus, the British Government indicates that the 'Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate' will be modified to make it easier for the industry to upgrade to manufacture electric vehicles, while fulfilling the manifesto commitment to stop the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, which will help even more British consumers access the benefits of affordable electric vehicles.