The Conservatives have set out plans to scrap the 2030 petrol and diesel car/van ban and ditch the ZEV mandate to relax pressures on manufacturers and vehicle buyers.

Announced as the EU mulls changes to its own 2035 ban on combustion engines, the party has said it would end the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars in its entirety – “unlocking freedom of choice for manufacturers and consumers alike and prioritising economic growth over arbitrary regulations”.

A future Conservative government would also “completely abolish” the ZEV mandate, which requires manufacturers to produce a growing number of electric vehicles – and said it plans to end “huge “taxpayer subsidies currently used to prop up the mandate, “saving” taxpayers £3.8bn.

The Conservatives said their plans would make the UK car industry globally competitive again and deliver transition driven by innovation and demand, not red tape.

But the party would retain EV charging infrastructure funding, in a move to support the continued development of the electric vehicle market.

The 2030 ICE ban was actually first introduced by the Conservatives back in 2020 when then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson said sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans would be banned by the end of the decade – but sales of hybrid models with “significant electric-only capabilities” would be allowed until 2035. In 2023, the Tories pushed the end date for sales of new fossil fuel cars and vans back to 2035 and, in 2024, the ZEV mandate launched under the former Conservative administration, requiring car and van makers to sell increasing minimum percentages of zero- emission cars and vans.

Since Labour was elected in summer 2024, it’s commited to bring back the 2030 ICE ban but, following a consultation, has also relaxed the ZEV mandate rules to allow new hybrid cars and ICE vans on sale until 2035, while also increasing flexibilities for manufacturers.

The Conservatives said the market has “continued to demonstrate that the rigid deadlines imposed by the Government are out of sync with how quickly consumers are willing or able to switch to electric”.

The Tories also said Labour’s model “relies heavily on subsidy, preferential tax treatment, and tight regulation to force both consumers and the car industry down a dead-end road”.

The Conservatives said Labour’s “ideological adherence” to the EV transition was having “disastrous consequences” for the UK car industry and pointed to this year’s closure of the Vauxhall Luton car plant, after Stellantis said the ZEV mandate had partly driven its decision.

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, said: “Labour’s rush to net zero is having a disastrous effect on the UK car industry.

“The Conservatives will ensure that we protect the environment, but we will do so without forcing families to bear the brunt of the costs, and forcing car makers to meet deadlines that don’t reflect consumer demand.

“By scrapping the ZEV mandate and the ban on petrol cars we are putting fairness and common sense back into the system and saving money for taxpayers. Britain succeeds when we back business and support innovation – that’s our plan for a stronger economy.”

But the AA has spoken out against the plans while also highlighting the need for support for drivers to shift to electric.

AA president Edmund King said: “Climate change is a real threat, so it is right that the targets are ‘challenging and ambitious’ and any further diluting of targets is likely to backfire.”

He also pointed to the AA’s Motoring Manifesto, which stated that climate change is a critical global challenge in which transport plays a vital part.

“Our members recognise the need to reduce emissions and improve air quality but are uncertain about how far and how fast they can change without the right support in place.

“So, it’s vital that information campaigns and incentives are put in place to facilitate this switch. The AA supported the original zero emission new car sales deadline of 2030 as ‘challenging but ambitious’. Reintroducing the 2030 deadline enabled us to maintain momentum on the net zero transition and improve our chances of delivering the UK’s net zero ambition. But drivers need to be supported with the right incentives, and reassured that we’ve made significant progress on infrastructure, to make the shift possible.”

Meanwhile, the head of EV charging platform Monta has argued that the future of EVs is not about mandates, but about making charging work in the real world.

Jon Evans, head of market UK & Ireland at the company, said: “Whether or not the 2030 petrol and diesel ban remains in place, the direction of travel is already clear: the UK vehicle market is moving electric. The real question is not about targets, but about whether we build the systems needed to support that transition properly.”

Evans also said scrapping or delaying mandates may offer “short-term political relief”, but it does not remove the structural challenges facing transport electrification.

“Drivers, fleets and businesses still need reliable charging, affordable access and confidence that the infrastructure will work when they need it. Those requirements don’t disappear with a policy U-turn,” he stated.

Monta also warned that the greatest risk to vehicle electrification is not ambition, it is uncertainty.

“Repeated changes to policy signals make it harder for charge point operators, energy providers and local authorities to plan, invest and scale.

“EV infrastructure is built on long-term horizons and stop-start decision-making ultimately slows progress and increases costs for everyone.

“The market itself is already making the shift. Fleets are electrifying because of total cost of ownership. Manufacturers are investing billions in EV platforms. Consumers are increasingly open to electric, provided the charging experience is simple and reliable.

“The focus now should be on delivery rather than debate. Regardless of future bans or deadlines, the UK needs to accelerate charger rollout, improve reliability and ensure fair access across urban and rural areas.

“If we get the infrastructure right, adoption will follow, with or without political mandates.”