The UK government has announced it will bring forward a crucial review of its electric vehicle sales targets, responding directly to pressure from the automotive industry. The evaluation of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, originally scheduled for 2027, will now commence next year.
Government Bows to Industry Concerns
Industry Minister Chris McDonald confirmed the accelerated timeline during a visit to Nissan's Sunderland plant, where production of the new, third-generation Leaf electric car has begun. The ZEV mandate forces car manufacturers to sell an increasing percentage of electric vehicles each year or face significant fines. However, after intense lobbying, the government introduced more flexibility into the rules in April, including offering more credits for selling hybrid vehicles.
"The ZEV mandate review starts next year … and of course we’d want to complete that review as quickly as we can," McDonald told the Financial Times. He emphasised the need to be "responsible to the industry" and "responsive to where the market is."
2035 Ban Stays Firm Despite EU Shift
Despite this concession, ministers have simultaneously ruled out following the European Union in watering down its 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars. The EU confirmed this week it would relax its own 2035 target, no longer requiring 100% of new cars to be zero-emission. After pressure from Germany and Italy, the bloc will now allow 10% of sales to be plug-in hybrids or even pure combustion engine cars after that date, provided carmakers offset this with other green manufacturing measures.
The UK government, however, stated it will not weaken its own 2035 phase-out plan. This creates a potential regulatory divergence with the UK's largest automotive trading partner.
Nissan's Leaf Launch Signals Manufacturing Transition
The policy announcement was made against the backdrop of a significant moment for UK car manufacturing. At Nissan's Sunderland factory, the largest car plant in Britain, workers have begun inspecting the first third-generation Leaf models rolling off the production line.
This vehicle is symbolic, being the first mass-market battery electric car built in the UK. Nissan has already produced over 280,000 Leaf models at the Sunderland site, making its continued investment a cornerstone of the UK industry's transition from fossil fuels.
The electric vehicle market has grown rapidly, with EVs capturing more than a fifth of the UK market in July. However, growth has recently cooled, with many carmakers having overestimated demand and subsequently cutting prices to attract buyers. This market volatility underpins the industry's call for a more pragmatic regulatory approach, leading to the early review of the ZEV mandate.
