Starmer wants Britain at front of electric car ‘revolution’ as reforms unveiled
The Prime Minister said the ‘new era of global instability’ will push the Government to go ‘further and faster’ to support businesses.
Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants British manufacturers to be at the “forefront” of the electric vehicle “revolution”, as he confirmed a raft of new reforms to boost manufacturers in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The Prime Minister said that the “new era of global instability” would push the Government to go “further and faster” to support businesses.
Under new measures to be announced on Monday, rules around fines for manufacturers who do not sell enough electric cars will be relaxed, and supercar firms will be exempt.
Companies are grappling with the new rules from the White House, which mean a 25% tariff is now applied to foreign cars imported into the US, while other products face a 10% levy.
Jaguar Land Rover said over the weekend that they would “pause” shipments to the US, as they look to “address the new trading terms”.
As part of his announcement in the West Midlands, Sir Keir will reinstate the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.
But regulations around manufacturing targets on electric cars and vans will also be altered, to help firms in the transition, and new hybrids will be on the market for another five years.
Luxury supercar firms such as Aston Martin and McLaren will still be allowed to keep producing petrol cars beyond 2030, because they only manufacture a small number of vehicles per year.
