Japan considering petrol and diesel ban in 2035

Japan is planning to follow in the tyre tracks of countries like the UK, Norway and Ireland by implementing a sales ban of cars powered by petrol and diesel combustion engines.

According to state broadcaster NHK, the proposed banning of petrol and diesels won't kick in until 2035 – five years after the UK and 10 years after Norway will have stopped selling combustion-powered vehicles.

The move to phase out petrol and diesels follows Japan prime minister Yoshihide Suga's pledge in October that the country would slash its carbon emissions to zero on a net basis by 2050.

Unlike the 2025 Norwegian ban that forces new car buyers to switch to pure-electric vehicles, the Japanese restriction on petrol and diesels will allow the sale of plug-in hybrids for an interim period, although the fine details of the plan will be revealed late next week.

It's hoped by many that impending petrol and diesel bans around the world will stimulate a technological arms race for the development of pure-electric and alternative-fuelled vehicles.

Toyota is generally considered to be best positioned to respond to the transition from petrol and diesel, as the company that created the world's best-selling hybrid has the largest research and development resources.

However, EV pioneer Nissan has a valuable headstart over its fellow Japanese brands.

Despite the proposed 2035 ban, analysts suggest that come 2030 Japan will actually be well on the way to full pure-electric or hybrid adoption with around 55 per cent of all cars expected to have some level of electrification by then.