Government targets to be slashed because Brits aren’t buying electric cars fast enough
Car changing is a big deal
The government’s ZEV mandate increases each year, with car makers having to make up 80% of their sales with electric cars by 2030. That looks set to change as appetite for EVs doesn’t meet expectations.
The government is planning to tone down targets for the sales of electric vehicles, as car manufacturers warn the ambitious goals are costing them ‘billions’.
Under the current zero emission vehicles (ZEV) mandate, a third of a car maker’s sales in the UK must be zero emission vehicles, with the percentage increasing annually until 2030, when the share must be 80%.
However, the car industry has pushed back against these targets, claiming the volume of car buyers interested in EVs does not meet the ‘ambition’ of the government’s goals.
Last week, Mike Hawes, chief executive of industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said: “For all the new products now available – increasingly in the smaller and more affordable segments of the market – the gap between uptake and ambition is still having to be patched over by unsustainable manufacturer discounting.”
Hawes has previously noted that this gap remains despite “billions in discounting” from the car industry.
Although manufacturers can buy ‘credits’ from other companies to hit their targets, fines of £12,000 for every car sold outside of the zero-emission target have motivated many to place heavy discounts on EVs, eating into already slim profits.
The ZEV mandate’s timeline ties in with the government’s plan to ban the sale of pure petrol and diesel cars from 2030. The Guardian reports that this ban is expected to stay in place, but the mandate’s target will reduce from 80% to 50%.
As a result, hybrid cars – which combine battery-powered electric motors with a traditional combustion engine – will make up a greater mix of sales than originally planned.
The latest SMMT figures show electric vehicle sales are increasing, even if they are behind target. Year-to-date, EV registrations are up 24% compared with the same period last year, with a market share of 24%.
In July 2025, the government introduced a grant scheme in an attempt to encourage buyers into electric cars. Discounts of up to £3,750 are available, but Carwow data shows that EV consideration among UK car buyers has barely changed since the introduction of the grant.
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