The UK government has initiated a review of the ZEV mandate and is willing to relax electric car sales targets between 2027 and 2035. However, during the consultation, it became clear that the policy will be less watered-down than initially thought.

As reported by the FT, the government under Andy Burnham now takes the position that, by 2030, 60 per cent of all new cars in the UK must be fully electric – rather than the 80 per cent previously required by the current ZEV mandate. Additionally ,the remaining 40 per cent must be hybrid vehicles. Pure petrol and diesel cars will thus no longer be eligible or registration from 2030.

According to the FT, this information comes from “trusted circles.” The report states that Burnham’s government, as part of the ongoing consultations, has asked the industry about the proposed 60 per cent BEV target for 2030. Reactions to this proposal remain unclear, although the UK automotive industry had actually expected a more substantial relaxation of the rules. Prior to the consultation, both Ford and Nissan had already called for the new car sales target to be reduced to 40 or 50 per cent BEVs. Additionally, Peter Kyle – who served as Economic Secretary for Burnham’s predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer (under whom the consultations were still being prepared) – had hoped to lower the EV quota for 2030 from 80 to 50 per cent.

The FT reports that the proposed 60 per cent target is itself contentious within Burnham’s government: “The business department is keen to cut the mandate as much as possible to help the UK’s car industry, which is under pressure from Chinese competition and wants a slower transition to EVs.

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