Labour has set out plans to relax Net Zero targets governing electric car sales, acknowledging that the existing approach could raise costs for motorists and that ministers themselves would not face the same impact. The move matters because it signals a potential shift in how the Government balances emissions reduction with affordability and consumer choice in the car market.

The proposals concern targets intended to increase the proportion of new vehicles sold as electric cars. Ministers’ admission about possible higher costs is likely to intensify debate over whether manufacturers’ compliance requirements are passed on to buyers, and whether changes would slow the transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles.