The Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) declared that it was evident that Rishi Sunak’s decision, made in September of last year, to postpone the sale of new cars fueled by gasoline and diesel until 2035 had backfired.
Prior to the government’s reversal, the sector had set a 2030 deadline based on cost considerations and issued a warning that the action would discourage investment and represent a step backward in the fight against climate change.
Although the UK’s electric vehicle industry is still the second-largest in Europe by volume, sales are falling short of expectations prior to the government’s delay, according to the SMMT on Friday.
It stated that when customer subsidies ended in 2023, the uptake of private electric vehicles fell by 19% year over year.
According to a poll conducted by the organization, compared to one in ten last year, nearly half of prospective EV owners now intended to wait until after 2030 to make the transition.
