Industry responds to reports the Government will revise ZEV mandate targets

Responding to reports that the Government is set to reduce the ZEV mandate's 2030 target from 80% to 50% of new car sales, Nick Connor, Chief Executive of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), said:

"We welcome the news that the ZEV Mandate is set to be reviewed, but whatever the final figure turns out to be, the direction of travel hasn't changed - the UK is moving to electric vehicles, and the automotive workforce needs to be ready for that future regardless of where the target line is drawn.

“The government needs to strike a balance right now. Targets have to be realistic and deliverable, for manufacturers, for the supply chain, and for the consumers who'll ultimately decide how quickly this transition happens.

“However, it’s important that a relaxed target isn’t seen by the wider sector as a signal to slow down on training and skills investment. Every electric vehicle already on UK roads, regardless of what happens to the 2030 target, will need a technician qualified to work on it safely throughout its life. Yet our latest IMI EV TechSafe data shows that only around a third of UK technicians currently hold an EV qualification.

“The government needs to ensure that while adjusting the targets it puts a focus on skills training.  And it needs to provide certainty. The automotive sector has endured too much switching of targets and deadlines in the last decade.  It needs a clear picture about the pace of transition so that training providers, employers and individuals can plan investment in skills with confidence. That's the balancing act that matters most: realistic targets for vehicle sales, matched by an unwavering commitment to making sure the workforce is ready to support them."

Matt Adams, Head of Electrical Transport Systems at BEAMA comments:

"Investors back certainty. Weakening the ZEV mandate risks sending exactly the wrong signal to businesses backing the UK's EV transition. 

"Manufacturers have committed to the UK because Government set out a clear and ambitious direction of travel for electrification. Moving the goalposts now risks undermining confidence just as demand for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure continues to grow. 

"At a time when the UK should be attracting capital into EV manufacturing and charging infrastructure, mixed policy signals risk making it harder to secure investment. 

"That could slow progress, confuse consumers and make the UK a less attractive place to do business." 

Russell Olive, UK Director, vaylens comments:

"Adjusting the ZEV mandate won't remove the practical challenges businesses face when trying to electrify their vehicles. 

“Policy can influence the pace of change, but successful electrification still depends on practical planning, better data and infrastructure that aligns with how vehicles are actually used. 

"Many businesses aren't being held back by a lack of ambition. They're trying to understand which vehicles can transition today, what infrastructure they need and how charging fits around the way they operate." 

“Confidence is what will ultimately drive fleet electrification. Businesses need clarity on what vehicles can transition today, how charging will support their operations and whether their infrastructure can support growth over time if they are going to commit to electrification at scale." 

Delvin Lane, CEO, InstaVolt, said:

“Consumer demand is strong and the network is growing to meet it. In England and Wales, drivers are never more than 30 miles from an InstaVolt charger. The infrastructure is not lagging behind. We have 3,000 chargers across more than 900 locations, with another 300 sites coming over the next year. What matters now is that any changes to the mandate are made with the whole ecosystem in mind. Charging investment runs on long lead times, and operators need a stable, credible policy framework to plan, build and attract capital. We would urge Government to work closely with the charging sector as it finalises any changes.”

Greg Jackson, Founder and CEO, Octopus Energy, said:

“It looks like the government has chosen short-termist incumbent lobbying instead of the long term future of industry. The fossil fuel market is shrinking globally and our best hope is to speed up development of electric vehicles not go the other way.

“This hesitation undermines the credibility of government commitments which were supposed to give certainty to investors. Fewer EVs will mean higher electricity bills for everyone as we spread lower demand over ever higher fixed grid costs, less investment in charge points and a very dim future for our car industry.”

Tanya Sinclair, CEO, Electric Vehicles UK:

“This is exactly the kind of reactive policy-making we warn against. Constant changes of direction create uncertainty for drivers and businesses, undermine confidence and make investment decisions harder. The problem is not electric vehicles. The problem is a government that has yet to establish a clear policy position and maintain it.”

Simon Smith, CEO, Voltempo:

“Watering down the mandate is a concession to the slowest movers in the industry, not a reflection of what drivers want. People aren’t buying electric cars because regulation tells them to. They’re buying them because they save money every month and shield households from oil price swings. That logic doesn’t weaken because a target does. The economics are doing the heavy lifting now, not the policy.”