Kemi Badenoch has confirmed the Conservatives would scrap the 2030 ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars if they win the next general election.
The leader of the opposition vowed to bring an end to Labour's push for electric vehicles, lambasting it as an 'economic act of self-harm'.
The 45-year-old said the drive for electric motors could leave Britain at risk of propping up China while leaving itself isolated.
Her recent remarks draw a clear line in the sand with the Government's plans for Net Zero - a move they have labelled 'an economic opportunity for the 21st century'.
It comes as Labour faced pressure to delay its 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars now that the European Union is set to push back its own target.
Badenoch, who made the declaration shortly after speaking with Italian Prime Minister Giogria Meloni, said China would be 'the only winners' if Britain went electric.
Meanwhile, the EU dramatically abandoned its deadline to ban the sale of petrol and diesel motors earlier this week.
Badenoch said the EU's 'change of heart' would mean Britain would be putting its domestic industry at 'a disadvantage' by going alone with the proposals.
Kemi Badenoch (pictured) has confirmed the Conservatives would scrap the 2030 ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars if they win the next general election.
The European Union is poised to delay its ban on the sale of diesel and petrol cars by five years to 2040 (stock image).
'The only winners in this economic self-harm are China, who have happily profited from our decision to accelerate demand for electric vehicles without first securing our own battery and mineral supply chains,' she told The Telegraph.
The MP for North West Essex said she would ace the 'destructive' mandate which is set to come into force by 2030 and could affect Britain's 40 million drivers.
The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate would mean car producers would have to quickly ramp up their quotas for the sale of electric cars, eventually reaching 100 percent.
But so far, ministers have been adamant that the UK's phase-out timetable - 2030 for sales of fully petrol and diesel cars and 2035 for hybrids - will remain.
Meanwhile, industry figures suggest there is not a strong public demand for electric cars to fulfil quotas, sparking concern.
It comes as ministers voiced worries about bringing back cash grants for battery-powered vehicles - a scheme previously scrapped by the Conservatives in 2022.
The leader of the opposition insisted getting rid of the proposed ban would save taxpayers billions in grants and tax breaks created to promote the use of electric cars.
'We will bring the UK back into line with other global markets and give businesses the freedom to respond to real consumer demand,' she penned.
Latest industry figures shows that sales of new electric cars had already slowed to their lowest point in almost two years.
She added that progress to cleaner travel would continue but had to be supported by 'affordability, practicality and technological progress'.
'I am willing to be criticised for taking the right, if controversial approach, if it stops the deindustrialisation of the UK.'
Deputy of Reform UK, Richard Tice also said his party would bring an end to the ban, describing it as the only solution to 'save the UK automotive industry'.
The proposal to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2030 was first introduced by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
His initial plan set out for the UK to phase out EVs more quickly than the EU, which originally set its date for a ban in 2035.
Badenoch, who was then business secretary, spoke against the policy in Cabinet as she believed it would damage investment on British shores.
Although car manufacturers have insisted ministers veer away from the ban, Downing Street has maintained it will go ahead.
It comes as the European Union is poised to delay its ban on the sale of diesel and petrol cars by five years to 2040.
A government spokesman said: 'We remain committed to phasing out all new non-zero emission car and van sales by 2035.'
'More drivers than ever are choosing electric, and November saw another month of increased sales with EV's accounting for one in four cars sold.'