The UK Government has confirmed weekend reports that it will allow the sale of hybrid cars until 2035, despite a Labour manifesto pledge to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2030.
In a statement published in The Guardian, the government said this aligns with the manifesto pledge as “the original phase-out date included the provision for some hybrid vehicle sales between 2030 and 35”.
“We know it is important to provide certainty and stability for drivers and will set out further details in due course,” the Department for Transport added.
Labour leader Keir Starmer pledged to restore the 2030 internal combustion engine (ICE) phase-out target after the former Tory administration pushed it back to 2035.
The government rebuffed claims from The Telegraph that this represents a climb down from the 2030 manifesto pledge.
“This is untrue as we have always been committed to restoring the original 2030 phase-out date for the sale of new cars with pure internal combustion engines,” said the DfT.