 mandate . A spokesman for Mrs Badenoch said: 'If major car companies employing thousands of people are saying that there's a problem, then it's her job to look at ways to ease that problem.' Net zero has become a central issue for both the Conservatives and Labour, with Rishi Sunak under mounting pressure to delay the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles . Last week, The Telegraph revealed that Honda and Toyota were publicly urging a softening of the rules amid fears that they would be breached if implemented as planned. Mrs Badenoch's spokesman was also quoted saying 'Honda and Toyota are not the only manufacturers who have raised concerns' and 'Kemi has been raising their concerns with colleagues in the Cabinet'. The accuracy of the remarks, first reported by the Politico website, was not disputed by the Business Department. The Telegraph understands that government ministers are looking at new 'flexibilities' to help with the crunch, but are committed to the introduction of the quota. Despite the rules coming into force in just five months the Transport Department has still not revealed their full approach of how they will oversee the scheme. Zev mandate The Zev mandate is part of a wider set of rules to phase out petrol and gas cars and help hit the Government's legal target of making the UK a net zero carbon emitter by 2050. The UK ban on the sale of new petrol a){kind=link}
Car companies tell Business Secretary there will be job losses if they have to meet current government zero emission rules
Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, is pushing cabinet colleagues to water down net zero rules on electric cars that come into force in January.
Car manufacturers are warning they will not be able to hit a requirement that 22 per cent of new vehicles they sell in 2024 must be zero emission models which are completely electric.
A manufacturer will be fined £15,000 for every polluting car sold over the limit, unless they can somehow buy in extra allowances from another company.
Mrs Badenoch is understood to be concerned about the requirement, known as the zero emissions vehicle (Zev) mandate.