Abbott flags local electric car making

Tony Abbott says Australia may need to "re-create" local car making if demand for electric cars outstrips supply available from overseas.

The former prime minister oversaw the end of car making in Australia by removing massive government subsidies for the major manufacturers.

Labor has flagged a target of 50 per cent of cars sold being electric by 2030, as overseas manufacturers gear up production.

Mr Abbott told a Sky News forum in his seat of Warringah on Thursday he did not agree with Labor's plan as it would push up the price of vehicles.

But asked what would happen if overseas car makers started focusing on electric vehicles and Australia did not have the infrastructure to support EVs, he said: "We may very well re-create our own car industry."

"If we need them we will make them," he said.

"I think the world will give us what we need. But plainly if there is something we do need that the world can't give us, we will provide it for ourselves. That's what we do."

Mr Abbott said he did not regret ending subsidies for the industry.

"What I said at the time is I'm not going to chase GM and Toyota down the road waving a chequebook at them."