The United Kingdom is reconsidering its electric vehicle (EV) sales targets following industry feedback on the potential economic impact of its ambitious Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandates.
The ZEV mandates, part of the UK government’s transition plan to achieve 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035, are set to undergo consultation. Published in January 2024, the mandates require 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain to be zero-emission by 2030. While the government emphasized its regulatory framework as the world’s most ambitious, automakers have raised concerns about the feasibility of these targets.
“The UK now has the most ambitious regulatory framework for the switch to electric vehicles of any country in the world,” the government stated earlier this year. It noted that the mandates were crafted following industry consultations to provide manufacturers with the certainty needed to protect jobs and maintain the country’s manufacturing competitiveness.
However, automakers have warned that the policy could cost the industry $7.6 billion in 2024, potentially jeopardizing jobs and the UK’s position as a manufacturing hub. Public demand for EVs has lagged behind expectations, creating additional pressure on automakers to meet the stringent targets.
Business Minister Jonathan Reynolds attributed some of the challenges to policy inconsistencies under the previous Conservative government. “They changed the destination and kept the fines and the ramp-up and the thresholds exactly the same,” Reynolds said. “What they did was give no flexibility or pragmatism in how that policy operated, but still undermined the transition, leading to a massive reduction in consumer confidence.”
The consultation process aims to address industry concerns while maintaining momentum toward the UK’s climate goals. The outcome will likely shape the future of EV adoption and manufacturing in Britain.
