UK will review EV sales targets next year
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The car industry has been calling on the UK government for the review of ‘zero emission vehicle mandate’ to be brought forward to next year instead of 2027 © Chris Ratcliffe/BloombergUK will review EV sales targets next year on x (opens in a new window)UK will review EV sales targets next year on facebook (opens in a new window)UK will review EV sales targets next year on linkedin (opens in a new window)UK will review EV sales targets next year on whatsapp (opens in a new window) Save UK will review EV sales targets next year on x (opens in a new window)UK will review EV sales targets next year on facebook (opens in a new window)UK will review EV sales targets next year on linkedin (opens in a new window)UK will review EV sales targets next year on whatsapp (opens in a new window) Save Kana Inagaki in SunderlandPublishedDecember 17 2025Jump to comments sectionPrint this pageStay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the Electric vehicles myFT Digest -- delivered directly to your inbox.The UK will kick off a review of its EV sales targets next year instead of 2027 as the government pledged to be “responsive” to the car industry in the wake of changes to climate targets in Europe.The British government has insisted it will not dilute plans to shift all new car sales to electric vehicles from 2035 even as the European Commission prepares to scrap its 2035 ban on new combustion engines.The government also has an “electric vehicles mandate” under which a certain proportion of new cars sold in Britain must be EVs, with that percentage climbing every year until 2035. In April, it watered down some of those targets by lowering punitive fines.But the car industry had been calling on the government for a planned review of the country’s “zero emission vehicle mandate” to be brought forward to next year instead of 2027. In an interview with the Financial Times, industry minister Chris McDonald said: “The ZEV mandate review starts next year . . . and of course we’d want to complete that review as quickly as we can.”The car industry has come under pressure from the costly transition to EVs and the influx of more affordable models made by BYD and other Chinese rivals. About 23 per cent of new cars sold this year in the UK were EVs, below the government’s target of 28 per cent. The target is set to increase to 80 per cent in 2030.Two car industry executives said having the review of the targets next year would be “good news”, although they called for the process to be concluded quickly.Brussels also brought forward the review of its automotive policies from next year in response to industry pressure.Under a revision of the law to be proposed by the commission on Tuesday, European car manufacturers would be allowed 10 per cent of 2021 emissions levels as long as they meet certain conditions. That would mean plug-in hybrids, range extenders and combustion engine vehicles will be able to be sold after 2035.McDonald stressed that the car industry needed policy clarity to continue making investments in EVs as he attended an event at Nissan’s Sunderland plant marking the start of production for the new Leaf EV.“There is no change to our ambition, which is to be the leading centre in Europe for the production of electric vehicles,” McDonald said. But pointing to the flexibilities to the EV targets that were introduced earlier this year, he added: “We’ve got to be responsible to the industry, and also we’ve got to be responsive to where the market is as well.” Reuse this content (opens in new window) CommentsJump to comments sectionPromoted Content Follow the topics in this article European companies Add to myFT Environment Add to myFT Electric vehicles Add to myFT UK business Add to myFT Automobiles Add to myFT CommentsThe UK will kick off a review of its EV sales targets next year instead of 2027 as the government pledged to be “responsive” to the car industry in the wake of changes to climate targets in Europe.The British government has insisted it will not dilute plans to shift all new car sales to electric vehicles from 2035 even as the European Commission prepares to scrap its 2035 ban on new combustion engines.The government also has an “electric vehicles mandate” under which a certain proportion of new cars sold in Britain must be EVs, with that percentage climbing every year until 2035. In April, it watered down some of those targets by lowering punitive fines.But the car industry had been calling on the government for a planned review of the country’s “zero emission vehicle mandate” to be brought forward to next year instead of 2027. In an interview with the Financial Times, industry minister Chris McDonald said: “The ZEV mandate review starts next year . . . and of course we’d want to complete that review as quickly as we can.”The car industry has come under pressure from the costly transition to EVs and the influx of more affordable models made by BYD and other Chinese rivals. About 23 per cent of new cars sold this year in the UK were EVs, below the government’s target of 28 per cent. The target is set to increase to 80 per cent in 2030.Two car industry executives said having the review of the targets next year would be “good news”, although they called for the process to be concluded quickly.Brussels also brought forward the review of its automotive policies from next year in response to industry pressure.Under a revision of the law to be proposed by the commission on Tuesday, European car manufacturers would be allowed 10 per cent of 2021 emissions levels as long as they meet certain conditions. That would mean plug-in hybrids, range extenders and combustion engine vehicles will be able to be sold after 2035.McDonald stressed that the car industry needed policy clarity to continue making investments in EVs as he attended an event at Nissan’s Sunderland plant marking the start of production for the new Leaf EV.“There is no change to our ambition, which is to be the leading centre in Europe for the production of electric vehicles,” McDonald said. But pointing to the flexibilities to the EV targets that were introduced earlier this year, he added: “We’ve got to be responsible to the industry, and also we’ve got to be responsive to where the market is as well.”