UK electric car sales target to be weakened
The UK government is set to water down its target for how many new cars sold need to be electric vehicles (EVs), according to the BBC. Under current rules, 80% of all new cars sold in the UK must be EVs by 2030, but car makers and trade unions have lobbied for years to reduce the target due to concerns over costs and jobs. Sustainability groups warn that weakening the target will threaten the UK's long-term electrification and climate goals.
Zero Emission Vehicles Mandate and Phased Targets
The policy on EV sales has changed frequently. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak introduced phased targets for EV sales, known as the Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) mandate. Under the ZEV mandate, the percentage of new car sales that must be EVs increases each year: 28% for 2025, 33% for 2026, and so on until it reaches 80% by 2030. Companies that fail to hit the mandate face a £15,000 fine per non-compliant car. They can also buy credits from rivals that have sold more EVs than required. It is understood there are no plans to change that element of the mandate.
| Year | ZEV Mandate Target |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 28% |
| 2026 | 33% |
| ... | ... |
| 2030 | 80% |
Government Consultation on New Target
The government will hold a consultation on what the new 2030 target should be, meaning it could take months before a decision is made. Numbers ranging from 50% to 70% are under consideration. Labour has pledged in its manifesto to bring the petrol and diesel ban back to 2030. A policy review on the separate ZEV mandate had been expected early next year but the industry has pushed for it to happen sooner. Downing Street is expected to meet with the UK car industry this week to discuss the shift in policy. Labour has previously accused the Conservative government of "moving goalposts on phase out dates".
Industry and Union Reactions
To sell their quota of EVs, many car makers use discounts. This has cost the industry more than £10bn over the past two years, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The SMMT told the BBC that "unless there is urgent relief of the mandate, which is still running well ahead of demand and about to ramp up, then the cost will be in jobs, investments and the viability of some businesses".
Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite union, said failure to act on the mandate would be "an act of self-harm to a sector which is a jewel in the crown of UK manufacturing". Industry sources say drivers are reluctant to buy EVs because of worries about range and the lack of charging points, which has also contributed to EVs failing to hold their value on the second-hand market.
Impact on Charging Infrastructure and Consumer Sentiment
James Alexander, chief executive of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF), warned that watering down the ZEV mandate could slow the rollout of more charging points. He said the mandate is "vital for driving investment into our charging infrastructure" as it has "given the market confidence to commit vast sums of private capital to building out these networks across the country". He added: "Any attempt to water down these targets could send warning signals to these investors about the government's long-term commitment to electrifying our transport network."
According to a poll by researchers More in Common commissioned by UKSIF, 74% of Britons want their council to maintain or increase support for the rollout of EV charging points.
Market Data
In 2025, a total of 2,020,373 new cars were registered in the UK, the third successive year of growth and the highest total since the pandemic. Electric cars accounted for 473,340 new registrations last year, giving them a market share of 23.4%. That was a significant increase on 2024, but still below the 2025 ZEV mandate target of 28%.
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