One of the UK's most historic car brands has pledged to stick with petrol and diesel cars for the foreseeable future, despite Labour outlining new electric vehicle pledges.
Morgan Motor Company will continue manufacturing petrol and diesel cars in the coming years, while also looking at the viability of making electric vehicles.
In January, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced to Parliament that no new petrol or diesel vehicles would be sold after 2030.
Between 2030 and 2035, new hybrid cars will remain on sale before only zero emission vehicles can be sold from the middle of the next decade.
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Morgan Motors said it would continue to produce internal combustion engine vehicles
MORGAN/GETTY
This was confirmed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier this month, alongside new measures for the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which outlines how many EVs manufacturers need to sell every year.
By the end of this year, at least 28 per cent of sales must come from zero emission vehicles to ensure manufacturers can avoid fines, which could cost them £12,000 per polluting vehicle over the limit.
Matthew Hole, managing director of Morgan, spoke to Top Gear about the future of the brand and whether it had changed its aims based on the outcome of the ZEV mandate update.
He said: "We have an electric programme that’s running in parallel [with ICE development], and we see a future - not in the near future, in the longer-term future, post-2030 - where we'll run internal combustion engines alongside EVs.
"We will put internal combustion engines into our cars for as long as we possibly can. That's the DNA of our cars and it’s what our customers want."
Hole previously warned that it would be difficult for the brand, and other bespoke British manufacturers, to adapt to the ZEV mandate while issues exist.
The majority of responses to the ZEV mandate consultation thought that micro-volume manufacturers, which include brands which produce fewer than 1,000 annual registrations, should not be subject to the 2030 targets.
Responses highlighted how the carbon emissions output from micro-volume manufacturers is minimal, and that they should have extra flexibility to adjust to the post-2030 rules.
Similar responses were given to small volume manufacturers who produce between 1,000 and 2,499 new registrations per year. Micro volume manufacturers have been exempt from the ZEV mandate and CO2 targets since it was first announced.
Morgan recently unveiled its new Supersport model at its Malvern headquarters in Worcestershire, in a presentation hosted by Top Gear legend Richard Hammond.
Drivers looking to get their hands on a petrol-powered Supersport will face a total cost of around £85,000, with Morgan offering "near limitless" design options.
Matthew Hole described the Supersport as an "exciting new chapter" for Morgan, adding that it demonstrated the brand's "spirit and confidence".
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The Morgan Supersport will be available at dealerships from April MORGAN MOTORSHe said that if the Government allowed them to continue making petrol models forever, they would, since that is what their customers want.
In March, Hole said the British manufacturer had one eye on the future, which will likely include an electric Morgan vehicle.
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