The UK will consult on sales targets for automakers during the transition to electric vehicles

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The UK will consult on sales targets for automakers during the transition to electric vehicles

2024-11-28 02:08 Last Updated At：02:10

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s new Labour government will launch a consultation on auto manufacturers' sales targets during the transition to electric vehicles, following the decision by Stellantis, the owner of Vauxhall, to close its van factory in southern England at the potential cost of 1,100 jobs.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told lawmakers Wednesday that the problems encountered by Stellantis in the transition to electric vehicles are not unique, adding that the government will do all it can to prevent the plant's closure.

Stellantis blamed its decision Tuesday to close its plant in Luton on the U.K.'s “stringent” zero-emission vehicle mandate, or ZEV, which sets strict targets for manufacturers.

With demand in many parts of the world the world for electric vehicles weaker than anticipated, despite the discounts on offer, it is increasingly expensive for carmakers to turn a profit, especially with sluggish global growth and relatively high interest rates.

Other manufacturers across Europe, including Ford and Volkswagen, recently announced plans to close some operations in light of targets they are struggling to meet.

The mandate in the U.K. requires major car manufacturers to have zero-emission — in effect, purely electric — vehicles make up 22% of their sales fleet this year, increasing to 28% in 2025 and rising further in subsequent years. If a manufacturer does not hit the targets, it is fined 15,000 pounds ($19,000) for every vehicle that it sells that does not comply with the mandate.

The targets were laid out two years ago by the previous Conservative administration, which set a deadline of 2035 for phasing out the sale of new petrol and diesel-powered cars.

Reynolds confirmed plans to review the ZEV mandate as part of a consultation on the new Labour government’s plan to ban the sale of new “purely petrol and diesel” cars by 2030.

“Car manufacturers around the world are battling with increased costs, supply chain issues and changing consumer demand in a highly competitive, fast-evolving market," he said.

In its manifesto for government ahead of the July 4 election, Labour promised a “phase-out date of 2030 for new cars with internal combustion engines.” That caused industry anxiety over the future of hybrids, which use electric batteries along with petrol or diesel power.

“We will be shortly fast-tracking a consultation on our manifesto commitment to end the sales of new purely petrol and diesel cars by 2030," Reynolds said. “But we will use that consultation to engage with industry on the previous government’s ZEV transition mandate and the flexibilities contained within it.”

His use of the term “purely” has been interpreted as suggesting that hybrid vehicles can still be sold after 2030.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the industry's lobby group in the U.K., insisted that its members remain “committed to delivering a decarbonised road transport sector” but that the ZEV mandate will cost automakers around 6 billion pounds ($7.5 billion) this year alone.

“We need an urgent review of the automotive market and the regulation intended to drive it,” the group's chief executive Mike Hawes said. “Not because we want to water down any commitments, but because delivery matters more than notional targets.”

Rather than changing the current rules, environmental campaigners suggest the government should make electric vehicles more appealing, potentially by giving new owners tax advantages or reducing the cost of on-street charging via subsidies.

"Chopping and changing policies damages consumer demand and undermines investor confidence," said Nick Davies, head of climate policy at the London-based Green Alliance.

Ahkello Witherspoon makes last-minute interception to preserve Rams' 13-9 win over Arizona

2024-12-29 13:48 Last Updated At：13:50

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams spent the entire second half struggling on offense while bending just enough on defense to preserve a tiny lead.

Arizona even backed Los Angeles into its own end zone in the final minute, needing just one big play to steal a win.

Ahkello Witherspoon and the Rams hung on by their fingertips, and now they're on the brink of another NFC West title.

Witherspoon made a diving interception on a deflected pass in the end zone with 37 seconds to play, and the Rams barely maintained command of the division race with a 13-9 victory over the Cardinals on Saturday night.

Puka Nacua had 129 yards receiving and Kyren Williams scored the only touchdown for the Rams (10-6), who grinded through a difficult offensive night and survived a hair-raising fourth quarter for their fifth consecutive victory.

“We didn’t do a whole lot great, to be honest with you,” said Matthew Stafford, who passed for 189 yards in the Rams’ ninth win in 11 games. “Didn’t run it great. Didn’t throw it great. But found a way to get a win and get enough points.”

The Rams host Seattle (9-7) in their regular-season finale next weekend, but they could already have coach Sean McVay’s fourth division title clinched before then.

If the Bills, Browns, Vikings, Commanders and 49ers combine for three wins — or two wins and a tie — over the next two days, Los Angeles will be NFC West champions based on its strength of schedule, no matter what happens against Seattle.

If the Rams don’t get that strength-of-schedule help this week, they’re still in command of the division race: The Seahawks will have to beat the Rams and get help from multiple teams to claim the West while denying the Rams’ sixth playoff berth in eight seasons under McVay.

The Rams narrowly avoided a winner-take-all finale against Seattle by holding off the Cardinals, who played a tremendous defensive game one week after getting eliminated from playoff contention.

Kyler Murray passed for 321 yards and threw two late interceptions for Arizona (7-9), which managed just three points out of three drives into Rams territory in the fourth quarter.

Arizona drove to the Los Angeles 5 in the final minute, but the Rams called an all-out blitz on first down. Murray’s quick pass deflected off tight end Trey McBride's helmet, and Witherspoon made a 10-fingertip interception in the end zone that was upheld by video review even though the ball touched the ground while between his hands.

“Just the way the NFL works, you never really know, honestly,” Witherspoon said. “I thought I stuck it. You saw by my celebration. But once I saw that replay, any time that ball hits the ground, you never know.”

McBride made both his 100th reception and his first touchdown catch of the season for Arizona, which has lost five of six. McBride had 12 catches for 123 yards, and Marvin Harrison Jr. had 96 yards receiving.

“The ball didn’t bounce our way,” Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon said. “Got the ball at the end, thought we were going to win, and they made a good play. It stings because we’re there, but we’re not there. When we play our brand of ball, we can compete and beat everyone, but it doesn’t mean a lot.”

Williams' 14th rushing TD of the season 3:23 before halftime opened the scoring and capped the Rams' first good drive.

Arizona finally scored midway through the third quarter on a 1-yard catch by McBride, who got his first touchdown on the 98th reception of his franchise-record season for a tight end.

The Cardinals got to 10-9 early in the fourth quarter with Chad Ryland's short field goal after their second straight impressive drive. Rams rookie Joshua Karty made his second field goal with 6:41 left.

Arizona drove to the Rams 40, but stalled before rookie Kam Kinchens intercepted Murray's fourth-down heave to the goal line with 3:02 left. But Kinchens cost the Rams a few dozen yards of field position by returning it to the 11 instead of batting it down, and the Rams' offense punted the ball back to the Cards just 1:01 later.

“I felt like for sure we were going to win that game,” Murray said. “We drove down the field, and (there's) nothing the defense can do to stop us, and at the end a (lousy) turn of events. We got unlucky.”

Michael Hoecht blocked Arizona's extra-point attempt in the third quarter. The 6-foot-4 linebacker leads the NFL this season with three blocked kicks, the second-most in Rams history.

Cardinals: CB Garrett Williams was evaluated for a concussion in the second half. ... RB James Conner suited up despite a knee injury, but had just four ineffective carries before getting shut down.

Rams: RT Rob Havenstein sat out with a shoulder injury incurred during practice this week. The veteran missed his fifth game of the season, and backup Joe Noteboom committed three holding penalties.

The Rams have won three straight and 11 of their last 15 over Seattle. The Cardinals finish at home against the 49ers.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL