Major brand to discontinue all petrol and diesel cars… and only launch electric vehicles – despite having just one EV
A FAMOUS car builder is set to abandon the production of petrol and diesel motors despite having just one electric vehicle on sale today.
Italian car firm Alfa Romeo has announced it will launch only electric vehicles ( EVs) from 2025.
From 2027 its entire lineup in Europe will be electric.
It only has one ‘electrified’ car on sale today – the plug-in hybrid Tonale. Its first fully electric Alfa is expected to be unveiled next year and likely called the Brennero.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has now confirmed that the 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel car will be pushed back to 20235.
But now Alfa Romeo, owned by Italian American conglomeration Stellantis, is set to abandon petrol and diesel powered cars early.
The Prime Minister pushed the ban on petrol and diesel sales back by five years during a speech on Wednesday.
Mr Sunak said: “To give us more time to prepare, I’m announcing today that we’re going to ease the transition to electric vehicles.
“You’ll still be able to buy petrol and diesel cars and vans until 2035.
“Even after that, you will still be able to buy and sell them second-hand.”
The PM added it should be the “consumer” that makes the choice – for now – on whether to switch to an electric car.
On electric vehicles, he said: “I expect that by 2030, the vast majority of cars sold will be electric.
“Why? Because the costs are reducing, the range is improving, the charging infrastructure is growing.
“People are already choosing electric vehicles to such an extent that we’re registering a new one every 60 seconds.
“But I also think that at least for now, it should be you, the consumer that makes that choice, not Government forcing you to do it, because the upfront cost still is high, especially for families struggling with the cost of living.
“Small businesses are worried about the practicalities. And we have got further to go to get the charging infrastructure truly nationwide and we need to strengthen our own auto industry, so we aren’t reliant on heavily subsidised carbon intensive imports from countries like China.”
In a speech in Downing Street, he announced plans to…
- DELAY ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035
- DELAY ban on gas boilers until 2035, with poorest exempt from switching altogether
- BOOST cash grants for household boiler upgrades by 50 per cent to £7,500
- SCRAP proposed taxes on eating meat
- SCRAP proposed taxes on flying
- SCRAP a proposed edict forcing people to sort rubbish into seven different bins
- SCRAP a proposed diktat for compulsory car sharing if you drive to work
- ENSURE new carbon budgets are properly funded
- LAUNCH new energy infrastructure plan to make Britain self-reliant