The government is set to water down its electric vehicle (EV) sales mandate, according to sources close to the Department for Transport. The decision, expected within days, will weaken the requirement for car manufacturers to sell a minimum proportion of zero-emission vehicles each year. The move represents a significant concession to the British motor industry, which has lobbied heavily against the original targets, citing high costs and lack of consumer demand.
Under the current rules, manufacturers must ensure that 22% of their new car sales are electric by 2024, rising to 80% by 2030. The weakened mandate will lower these thresholds, though exact figures remain under wraps. Industry insiders confirm that the change is aimed at avoiding heavy fines for non-compliance, which could have crippled domestic producers like Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan.
Documents leaked to this newsroom reveal that the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has been in closed-door meetings with major car companies for weeks. One memorandum, dated 10 March, shows that industry representatives warned of 'severe economic damage' unless targets were eased. The memo contradicts public statements from Transport Secretary Mark Harper, who late last year insisted the mandate was not up for negotiation.
The reversal will anger environmental groups, who argue that the UK is already lagging behind on EV adoption. Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that electric cars accounted for just 16.5% of new registrations in 2023, far short of the 22% target. Critics say weakening the mandate will only slow the transition further, leaving the UK less competitive against China and the EU.
But for the motor industry, the decision is a lifeline. One senior executive at a Midlands-based manufacturer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: 'We were facing billions in penalties. This gives us breathing space to invest in infrastructure and battery production.' The government is also expected to announce additional subsidies for charging points, though details remain scarce.
There is no word yet on how the weakened targets will affect the UK's net-zero commitments. The Climate Change Committee has previously warned that failing to meet EV sales targets would require compensating cuts in other sectors, such as housing or agriculture. The Treasury, meanwhile, is bracing for lower revenues from fines, which were originally earmarked for green initiatives.
The announcement will be made in a written ministerial statement early next week, according to a Whitehall source. Harper is expected to stress that the move is a 'temporary adjustment' to support industry during economic uncertainty. But with an election looming, the political calculus is clear: saving jobs in key battleground constituencies is worth more than hitting climate targets.
