Promoting a future of electric cars, the U.K. will ban sales of new gas and diesel vehicles by 2040. Many European politicians and regulators see electric autos as critical for reducing air pollution.

The internal combustion engine was dealt another blow on Wednesday when the U.K. pledged to ban the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars by 2040, following a similar move three weeks ago by France.

Leaders in the U.K. want to make it illegal to drive ... ban the sale of new gas or diesel vehicles by 2040. The plan is to phase out all cars with internal combustion engines by 2050.