2030 petrol and diesel car ban ditched after public backlash

Petrol and diesel car ban rules have been axed after a new consultation found that there was a lack of support for the scheme.

11:18, Tue, Apr 7, 2026 Updated: 11:20, Tue, Apr 7, 2026

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The 2030 petrol and diesel car ban has been axed in Jersey (Image: Getty)

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Petrol and diesel car ban legislation has been ditched after a backlash from motorists in a major U-turn. Jersey has announced it will scrap plans to ban the sale of new combustion models after the findings of a consultation came to light.

A consultation of more than 2,000 responses found that 63% of individuals and 79% of organisations said they expected to be negatively impacted by the new rule. Jersey's Environment Minister Steve Luce stressed it was clear the “majority” were not in favour of new rules, prompting the policy to be axed.

However, the new rule is still scheduled to be introdced in the UK (Image: Getty)

He said: "We do not need to create costly new legislation, as the changes in the UK will cascade to the local market automatically. I therefore will not be introducing limitations on the importation and registration of fossil fuel vehicles.

"It is very clear... that the majority of respondents were not in favour of the proposed phase-out. They wanted to retain freedom of choice when selecting vehicles.”

It’s the second U-turn from Jersey politicians, after previously reversing on plans to include used vehicles in the ban. Although officials stressed that they still remained committed to Jersey's 2050 net-zero goal.

However, the controversial new rule is still set to be introduced in the UK in just four years' time despite a mixed response. A previous poll from YouGov found that 58% of respondents were against the new 2030 rule, with a whopping 36% saying they were “strongly” against the rule.

The YouGov survey found that just 29% of the 5.609 UK adults asked about the new rule supported the policy. Last month, the UK car industry called for changes to Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate rules that drive the petrol and diesel car ban.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) stressed that current electric car sales targets were "fantasy".

However, Labour ministers rejected calls to bring forward a review into the scheme which is scheduled to be concluded next year.

Keir Mather said: “It is beginning this year, but early 2027, we feel, is the right point to make sure that we can test properly where the pressure points lie in the ZEV mandate and make sure that it continues to work for manufacturers. The government is incredibly clear that the EV transition is something that we stand resolutely behind.”