UK government expected to cut 2030 EV sales target to 60%, Guardian reports

UK Expected to Lower 2030 Electric Vehicle Sales Target to 60%, Says Guardian

Government Plans and Industry Response to Electric Vehicle Sales Targets

Expected Changes to the 2030 Electric Vehicle Sales Mandate

Nov 8 (Reuters) - The British government is expected to cut its electric vehicle sales target for 2030 by about a quarter to around 60%, the Guardian reported on Sunday, citing government sources.

Overview of the Zero-Emission Vehicle Mandate

The mandate, introduced in 2024, requires carmakers to ensure a rising proportion of their annual sales are zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), with the target set at 33% of new car sales in 2026, rising to 80% in 2030 and 100% by 2035.

Government Decision Process

Louise Haigh, the de facto deputy prime minister, is expected to finalise the plan after a meeting in Downing Street on Wednesday, the report said.

A government spokesperson said the government remained committed to the zero-emission vehicle mandate and that no decisions had been taken, according to the Guardian.

Implications and Industry Feedback

Potential Adjustments and Timeline Extensions

Haigh will probably approve a 2030 target of about 60% and extend the mandate's flexibilities until 2034, the report said, citing government insiders.

The UK government did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside regular business hours.

Review of Existing Targets and Industry Concerns

Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government set out a range of options in August that could ease pressure on carmakers to switch new sales to zero-emission vehicles, launching a review of existing targets that gradually phase out new petrol and diesel cars.

Carmakers have argued that supply chain disruptions and insufficient consumer demand are making the mandate's requirements difficult to meet. Battery-electric vehicles accounted for 26.6% of new car sales year to date, compared with the 33% target for 2026, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said last week.

Industry Recommendations

The SMMT called for "substantive changes" to ZEV mandate targets, including lowering them to better reflect demand.

(Reporting by Sumedha Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Nia Williams)