Keir Starmer is preparing to rush through changes that water-down electric vehicle targets as soon as next week as carmakers brace for Donald Trump’s tariffs – but carmakers warn the changes don’t go far enough. The Telegraph has more.
On Friday, Whitehall sources confirmed that the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate would be amended as soon as next week.
The new rules, first reported by the Times, will give manufacturers extra ‘flexibilities’ following the imposition of 25% duties on all the cars they export to the US.
But it is understood that they do not currently include reforms of the mandate’s headline targets and are unlikely to go further than what was set out in a consultation that closed in February.
Senior car industry sources have warned that those measures do not go far enough. Manufacturers are split on the issue of targets but most have been lobbying for carve-outs or changes that would let them continue selling hybrid cars for longer.
One warned: “Changes seem likely but we don’t know if they will be sufficient to ease the financial pressure on the market.”
It comes as the Prime Minister pins his hopes on neutralising the tariff threat by striking a trade deal with Mr Trump, as Britain otherwise contemplates the introduction of retaliatory measures in four weeks.
Under the existing ZEV mandate, 28% of new cars sold in the UK must be electric this year – although in practice manufacturers can already undershoot this target using various allowances.
The annual targets rise gradually each year until they reach 80% of sales in 2030, when sales of pure new petrol and diesel cars will also be banned.
Up until 2035 the sale of some hybrids will still be allowed, although the Government has not yet confirmed which types.
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