Ministers dig in on controversial plans to ban petrol and diesel cars by 2030

MINISTERS are digging successful connected plans to prohibition petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and hybrids by 2035.

After a week of car manufacture blows determination were hopes the unreserved to Net Zero whitethorn slow.

But it was understood ministers are looking lone astatine tweaks to strict zero-emission conveyance rules.

A reappraisal by Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds whitethorn alternatively bring successful much flexibility, specified arsenic letting manufacturers bargain permits oregon hold penalties for missing aboriginal targets.

It comes amid a enactment implicit phasing retired the merchantability of caller petrol and diesel cars.

Stellantis, proprietor of Vauxhall, is closing a works successful Luton, putting 1,100 jobs astatine risk, owed to EV targets.

Stellantis, who are Europe's second-biggest shaper of cars, person been weighting up their options aft months of discussions with the UK authorities implicit their electrification rules.

A root said: “There is nary U-turn. The Government has been wide it was conscionable caller cars powered solely by petrol and diesel that would beryllium banned.

"Hybrids person ever been portion of the program to enactment the transition.”

A spokesperson said: “The Government’s committedness is to signifier retired the merchantability of caller cars powered solely by interior combustion engines by 2030 — this has not changed.

“We volition bring guardant a consultation which volition see however to enactment manufacture to scope this date.”

In June, the company's erstwhile UK boss, Maria Grazia Davino, said:"Stellantis UK does not stop, but Stellantis accumulation successful the UK could stop."