UK Auto Lobby Notes "Bold Commitment" Of 2040 ICE Ban; Privately Lobbying To Delay Or Erase Proposal
The UK automotive industry is privately lobbying against the proposed 2040 introduction of a ban on sales of new diesel trucks, amid a split between manufacturers over when heavy goods vehicles should abandon fossil fuels.
In July the government revealed plans to ban internal combustion engines in new lorries after 2040, following a ban on petrol and diesel cars after 2035 to help tackle the climate crisis. It is now consulting on the measure.
The automotive lobby group, the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), says publicly that the proposed ban is a “bold commitment” that would require financial support from the government. However, it has told MPs privately that a ban should be delayed, according to responses to the official consultation. The responses were obtained through a formal request by InfluenceMap, a thinktank that tracks climate lobbying, which shared them with the Guardian.
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Rod McKenzie, the managing director of policy at the RHA, said more time was needed for the largest lorries only because the technology to power them was not yet available. He said that would mean small delivery companies were faced with financial risks when buying new vehicles. “It’s not that we’re against cleaner air or phasing out diesel lorries,” he said. “The question has always been the timescale.”
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https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/nov/01/industry-lobbies-against-2040-uk-ban-on-new-diesel-trucks