Major car firm to discontinue petrol and diesel vehicles next year… and will go electric instead – but only has one EV | The Sun

A MAJOR car brand is set to discontinue all its petrol and diesel cars to go fully electric.

The well-known French manufacturer is diving headlong into electrification well ahead of legal deadlines, despite only currently making one EV.

DS Automobiles announced in 2021 that it will make the transition next year in a move that took the motors industry by surprise.

For reference, other brands owned by DS' parent company Stellantis, including Peugeot and Citroen, won't be following suit until 2027.

It is also well ahead of the EU-wide ban on new petrol and diesel car sales, which is scheduled for 2035.

And since Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced yesterday that the UK would be delaying its own ban from 2030 to 2035, DS has certainly left itself plenty of time to get up and running in the EV market.

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Time it may need, in fact, as the DS3 E-Tense is currently its only production electric model.

Bosses, though, say that this will not last for long, with a raft of new EVs in the works.

DS CEO Beatrice Foucher said: "The car industry is experiencing a change whose breadth and speed are unprecedented. 

"As a pioneer, DS Automobiles has anticipated this move, with electrification at the centre of its strategy.

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"The next developments in legislation and the EV ecosystem provide opportunities that we want to offer to our customers who already like our electrified range.

"I took the decision to speed up the development to create a new 100 per cent electric art of travel, desirable in terms of enjoyment and remarkable in terms of quality and performance; a new art of travel, steadfastly high tech and still just as refined."

She added that the "daring plan" would take shape rapidly next year.

It comes after Labour said they would "absolutely" reinstate the 2030 ban if they win the general election next year.

Meanwhile, writing for The Sun, the PM vowed to fight climate change and reach net zero without punishing Brits with crippling bills.

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