The European Union could be preparing to perform a major U-turn on the ban on petrol and diesel vehicles, in a move that would diverge dramatically from the UK.
Sources have indicated that the European Union could look to push back the date to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles to 2040.
The European Parliament agreed in 2022 that vehicles containing internal combustion engines will not be on sale from 2035 in a bid to achieve net zero targets.
Original plans stated that all new cars that come on the market from 2035 cannot emit any CO2, to ensure the transport sector is carbon-neutral by 2050.
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Jan Huitema, a former Dutch MEP for the Renew Europe party, was instrumental in passing the legislation to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles.
Speaking at the time, he outlined that second-hand vehicle sales would not be impacted, but that the average lifespan of a car is 15 years, meaning the 2050 carbon-neutral goal could be achieved.
However, these plans could now be thrown into chaos as automotive manufacturers criticise the ban, blaming waning EV sales and competition from China as reasons for a delay.
Tim Tozer, UK chairman of the insurer and roadside-assistance firm Allianz Partners, suggested that the delay to 2040 would be confirmed soon.
The EU is expected to push back the petrol and diesel car ban deadline to 2040
|GETTY/PA
Speaking to The Times, the former country head of Vauxhall, Mazda and Mitsubishi, said: "I have it on good authority that the EU is going to add five years on to the current 2035 to make the date 2040, which would mean that from January 1, 2040, all new vehicles would need to be pure electric."
The EU still plans to cut emissions from cars by 55 per cent by 2030, with further hopes that van emissions will drop by 50 per cent, compared with 2021.
Another source reported that manufacturers were already preparing new generations of petrol and hybrid cars, ahead of the looming change to plans.
Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) shows that electric vehicle sales between January and October account for 16.4 per cent of the total market share.
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New registrations of petrol cars rank second with 27.4 per cent of the market, with hybrids representing more than one-third of the new car sales market.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed earlier this year that the Government would reinstate the 2030 deadline to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.
However, plug-in hybrid vehicle sales will be available until 2035, at which point only zero emission cars will be on sale for motorists.
To aid the transition away from polluting vehicles, Labour has launched the Electric Car Grant, which helps drivers save up to £3,750 on the price of a new EV.
Manufacturers have called for more support from the European Union
| PEXELSSources have indicated that the European Commission could be planning to announce a package of support to support the automotive industry across the continent.
The measures, which are expected to be rolled out on Tuesday, December 16, could potentially include a watered-down version of the 2035 combustion engine vehicle.
Reuters stated that December 16 is the assumed date, although this could still change, possibly until January next year.
This was hinted at by EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, with further reports suggesting that Brussels could announce the package later this week, before being implemented later on.