Japan considers banning sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles in mid-2030s

TOKYO – Japan may ban sales of recent gasoline-engine cars through the mid-2030s in support of hybrid or electric vehicles, public broadcaster NHK reported on Thursday, aligning it with other countries and regions which are imposing curbs on fossil fuel vehicles.

The move would follow Pm Yoshihide Suga’s pledge in October for Japan to slash carbon emissions to zero on the net basis by 2050 and make the country the 2nd G7 nation inside a little over two weeks to set a deadline for phasing out gasoline vehicles.

Japan’s industry ministry will pre-plan a plan through the year-end, chief government spokesman Katsunobu Kato told a news conference on Thursday.

The probability of state interventions to reduce carbon emissions is fueling a technological race among carmakers to build planet and hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles that will lure drivers because they switch from gasoline models, especially in the world’s two biggest auto markets, China and the U.S.

Measures already in position in Japan mean Japanese automakers, particularly big ones such as Toyota with greater research and development resources, can use electric vehicle technology they have already developed at home.

Nissan Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta last month told Reuters his company was ready to react to Britain’s decision to hasten a phase-out date for new petrol and diesel powered cars and vans by 5 years to 2030 because it was a part of a global trend.

Japan’s industry ministry is considering requiring brand new vehicles to be electric or hybrid, NHK reported earlier, adding the ministry would finalize a proper target following expert-panel debates as soon as the year-end.

Japanese automakers for the time being are keeping quiet on which impact those measures might have on their businesses.

Toyota, Honda, Nissan and it is alliance partner Mitsubishi Motors declined to comment.

In Japan, the proportion of electrical vehicles is expected to improve to 55% in 2030, Boston Consulting Group said inside a set of prospects for battery-powered cars.

Globally, “The speed of growth of the proportion of electrical vehicles will accelerate due to the fact that battery costs are falling more rapidly than previously expected,” Boston Consulting said in the report. ]

Japan, China and South Korea recently announced firm targets to finish net emissions of carbon, which has given momentum for businesses and banks to push for cutbacks to help keep climatic change in check.

Apart from Britain, parts of the United States and Canada, Norway and Germany, have curbed or are planning to curb fossil fuel cars. The wider European Union is anticipated to select future restrictions as soon as this month.