According to the Times of London, Toyota may cease manufacturing in the United Kingdom due to a government policy mandating a rapid transition to fully electric vehicles.
The company expressed its concerns to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps about the plan's transition phase, which prohibits new gasoline and diesel vehicles beginning in 2030. While hybrid vehicles will be permitted until 2035, the report suggests that requirements may include a minimum electric range rather than Toyota's self-charging hybrids.
According to the report, the United Kingdom's Zero Emission Vehicle mandate imposes targets requiring a growing percentage of automakers' new sales to be zero emission models beginning in 2024. Those who do not meet the target must pay a penalty or purchase credits from competitors who do.
Toyota UK declined to comment directly to the Times on its warning to Shapps, but stated that it planned to sell zero-emission vehicles in the United Kingdom and Western Europe by 2035. The Department of Transport did not respond to the Times' request for comment on Toyota's threat, but stated that the mandate's design is still being worked on.