Popular car brands demand 'urgent action' from Labour ahead of 2030 petrol and diesel car ban

According to new research from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the two brands registered 67,180 new vehicles, marking a 16.2 per cent increase to the previous year.

Spanish brand Cupra registered a record 30,398 new vehicles, making it one of the fastest-growing brands in the UK. This is also a jump of 18.5 per cent compared to last year.

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Seat also celebrated with the 300,000th registration of its Leon model. In total, the Barcelona-based manufacturer registered 36,782 new cars.

The positive sales figures for the two brands come amid a gloomy backdrop where the industry saw an eight per cent drop in private buyer sales.

Wayne Griffiths, CEO of Seat and Cupra, noted the "major challenges" faced across the industry last year but praised the "positive" delivery figures.

He added: "The upcoming months will test our determination as our transformation progresses. We are fully committed to electrification.

"However, we need urgent action from Government and stakeholders to secure an electric future, because our industry is at stake."

It comes as the Government awaits the end of a long-awaited public consultation on the future of the 2030 ban and how the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate could affect the switch.

Labour remains committed to the 2030 deadline, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander telling Parliament that "no new petrol or diesel cars will be sold" after the end of the decade.

She also clarified that all new cars and vans will need to be 100 per cent zero emission by 2035, leaving open the possibility for hybrid sales after 2030.

Some experts have criticised the hybrid loophole, noting that the vehicles still contain large petrol or diesel engines and will not help the UK move to a place where they can meet net zero emissions.

However, others say that hybrids provide a bridge between vehicles with internal combustion engines and zero emission vehicles, as some motorists may not be ready to switch yet.

In 2024, Cupra also registered its 20,000th battery electric vehicle, thanks mainly to the successful Born EV model, with prices starting from £35,495 and a staggering battery range of up to 372 miles.

Marcus Gossen, managing director of Seat Cupra UK, emphasised the praise from Wayne Griffiths, saying it had been a great year for the two Spanish brands.

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He continued, saying: "2024 has been a groundbreaking year for Cupra and Seat UK, setting new records and further enhancing our market presence with a range of exciting new models.

"With Cupra's continued growth and Seat's solid performance, we are looking forward to maintaining this momentum into 2025, particularly with the launch of the Cupra Tavascan and Terramar in the UK."