Here is a summary of the content in 400 words:
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has relaxed targets for automakers in the country to produce more electric vehicles (EVs) in an effort to ease pressure from Donald Trump’s trade tariffs. Although the 2030 phase-out date for new petrol and diesel cars remains unchanged, the government will now allow full hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles to be sold until 2035. This move aims to ease the burden on UK businesses, particularly those that produce luxury and premium cars for the US market, which is their second-largest export market after the European Union.
Under the new plan, micro-volume manufacturers such as McLaren and Aston Martin will be exempt from the mandate targets, in an effort to protect Britain’s supercar and advanced engineering industries. Starmer stated that the government’s priority remains to secure a trade deal with the US, which could include tariff exemptions, while also being prepared to step in and “shelter” British businesses from the impact of Trump’s new tariff policies.
Despite overall EV sales rising last year, driven by commercial buyers, individual car buyers have been slow to adopt electric vehicles, with only one in 10 choosing to do so. To meet the 2030 phase-out deadline, carmakers would need to achieve 28% EV sales by 2025, which is currently short of the 19% achieved last month. The measures announced aim to address these challenges and support the UK’s automotive industry in the face of global trade transformations.