The UK government has said it has not yet decided whether to scale back its targets for electric vehicle sales, following widespread reports that ministers are preparing to loosen one of the country's flagship climate policies.
The possible shift comes as motor industry lobby groups continue to raise concerns about how quickly manufacturers are being asked to move away from petrol and diesel cars. According to a report by China Daily Global Edition, some members of Prime Minister Andy Burnham's Cabinet are also believed to share those reservations.
What the Current Rules Require
Under existing rules, 80 percent of new cars sold in the UK must be electric by 2030. By 2035, every new car sold in the country must be zero emission.
These mandates are among the most significant drivers of EV adoption in the UK market, shaping how carmakers plan production, pricing and model launches. Any change to the timeline would affect manufacturers, charging infrastructure providers and consumers alike.
How the Story Emerged
The reports were first published by The Guardian. A government source later told the BBC that the matter would be approached in a pragmatic and balanced manner, while stressing that no final decision had been taken.
Burnham has stepped back from the discussions because his wife has professional links to the EV industry. The review of sales targets was set up this summer, shortly after he took office as prime minister.
A Policy With a Shifting History
The plan to phase out new petrol and diesel vehicles was first introduced in 2020 by then Conservative prime minister Boris Johnson. His successor as Conservative leader, Rishi Sunak, later pushed the target date back to 2035.
The Conservative Party, now in opposition, has pledged to scrap the ban entirely if it wins the next general election. Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called it a "well-meaning, but ultimately destructive piece of legislation."
The UK is not alone in revisiting its timeline. Last year the European Union watered down its own rules banning the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles, a decision that followed heavy lobbying from car manufacturers.
Timing Draws Sharp Criticism
The reports surfaced in the same week as the United Nations COP31 climate summit in Turkiye, a coincidence that drew a strong reaction from Green Party leader Zack Polanski.
Polanski pointed to a summer of heat-related deaths and scientific warnings that 2026 is on track to be the hottest year on record. He accused the government of yielding to the car industry and abandoning plans for rapid electrification.
He described the potential EV policy change as part of a wider pattern of poor climate decisions, arguing that ministers were siding with polluters by cutting key rules and continuing to pursue fossil fuel extraction.
Energy Policy and the Cost of Living
The EV debate sits alongside other contested energy decisions. In October, the government approved drilling in the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, off Scotland's east coast.
Burnham, who has made reducing the cost of living a central priority, has said he will take a pragmatic view of energy resources in UK waters. He has argued that available resources cannot be ignored when households are under financial strain. A decision is expected soon on the Rosebank oil field, located off the northwest coast of Scotland.
What It Means for the EV Sector
For carmakers, charging network operators and EV-focused startups, regulatory certainty matters as much as the targets themselves. A softer or delayed mandate could ease pressure on manufacturers but may also slow investment in charging infrastructure and battery supply chains.
With the government insisting nothing is settled, the industry will be watching closely for the outcome of the review. Whatever ministers decide, the UK's EV policy has become a political flashpoint that is likely to remain contested through the next election cycle.
Source: China Daily Global Edition
