The transition to electric cars in Britain will be hindered by any confusion over climate policy, the auto industry's trade body said today.
This follows reports that the UK government was planning to delay a 2030 ban on new petrol car sales.
"The automotive industry has and continues to invest billions in new electric vehicles as the decarbonisation of road transport is essential if net zero is to be delivered," the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' chief executive Mike Hawes said.
"To make this a reality, however, consumers must want to make the switch, which requires from government a clear, consistent message, attractive incentives and charging infrastructure that gives confidence rather than anxiety," he said.
"Confusion and uncertainty will only hold them back," he added.
The chair of Ford UK said Britain risked undermining the country's transition to electric vehicles (EV) if the government relaxes its current target to ban new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030 until 2035.
Ford said dropping the 2030 deadline would be a mistake, and hinted it could put further investments at risk.
"The UK 2030 target is a vital catalyst to accelerate Ford into a cleaner future," Ford UK chair Lisa Brankin said in a statement today.
"Our business needs three things from the UK government: ambition, commitment and consistency. A relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three."
Ford said it had already invested £430m in its UK facilities and had been planning further investments to fit with the 2030 timeline.
"We need the policy focus trained on bolstering the EV market in the short term and supporting consumers while headwinds are strong: infrastructure remains immature, tariffs loom and cost-of-living is high," Brankin added.
The British arms of Volkswagen and Stellantis also today called for clarity on regulation after reports that Britain was planning to delay a 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales.
"We urgently need a clear and reliable regulatory framework which creates market certainty and consumer confidence," Volkswagen Group UK said.
"Binding targets for infrastructure rollout and incentives are required to ensure the direction of travel," the company added.
A Stellantis spokesperson said governments must provide clarity on "important legislation, especially environmental issues that impact society as a whole."
Meanwhile, German carmaker BMW's UK unit said the auto industry needed clarity on zero emission vehicles.
"We cannot comment on speculation, but can say that we and the whole automotive industry needs clarity in the zero emission vehicle topic," a spokesperson for BMW in the UK said today.
