UK government planning ‘astonishing’ U-turn on ZEV mandate

The UK Government is preparing to soften the country’s ZEV mandate targets in the face of intense industry pressure, it has been reported.

The mandate sets out targets for new car sales, requiring manufacturers to ensure a minimum proportion of new cars are zero emissions or face fines of up to £12,000 per vehicle. For 2026, that figure is 33%, rising annually to 80% in 2030 and 100% in 2035.

However, the government is reportedly set to consult on watering down the targets after car makers and their representatives argued the current ambitions are unattainable.

The news, first reported by the Sunday Times, has been described as an “astonishing act of self-harm” with critics claiming it will “slam the brakes” on the country’s transition to electric vehicles.

According to the Sunday Times, the 2030 target could be reduced to as little as 50%.

However, government sources cited by the Guardian have said the 2030 ban on pure combustion vehicles will remain in place. That means hybrids and plug-in hybrids will be expected to fill the gap.

Tough targets

The ZEV mandate was introduced in 2023 by the Conservative government as part of efforts to cut the UK’s transport emissions. Its targets are among the most stringent in the world, and since their introduction, the car industry has repeatedly argued that they are unachievable.

EVs sales have been growing rapidly and in May this year were 34% higher than in May 2025. However, they still only represented 27% of the market share, well short of the 33% demanded by the end of the year. The SMMT, which represents the UK car industry, also claims sales are being propped up by “unsustainable” discounting.

The government had already committed to a review of the mandate in 2027 but is now understood to be bringing this forward.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “It’s clear that the assumptions underpinning the mandate no longer hold. It was designed for a market with stronger demand, greater stability and cheaper energy – not the market we have today. An urgent review of the ZEV Mandate is therefore essential. This is not about weakening ambition, but restoring credibility. Regulation must reflect real-world conditions.”

Sending the wrong signal

However, Vicky Read, chief executive of industry body, ChargeUK said any change to the ZEV Mandate targets would be a backward step.

She commented: “Weakening the ZEV Mandate for a third time would not only slam the brakes on infrastructure rollout and send the entire transition into a tailspin. It would bring Britain’s entire reputation as a market worth investing in into disrepute.

“This government said it would not flip flop like the previous did. To move the goalposts again would be exactly that — an act of self-harm denying the country a forward facing, economically prosperous industry leaving us behind the rest of the world.”

Matt Adams, head of electrical transport systems at electrotechnical trade union BEAMA added: “Investors back certainty. Weakening the ZEV mandate risks sending exactly the wrong signal to businesses backing the UK’s EV transition.

“Manufacturers have committed to the UK because government set out a clear and ambitious direction of travel for electrification. Moving the goalposts now risks undermining confidence just as demand for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure continues to grow.”

Guy Bartlett, CEO of charging operator Believ also warned against any backtracking on the mandate. He noted: “At a time when markets such as China are moving quickly and with clear intent, the UK cannot afford to send mixed signals on the pace of the EV transition. If this review results in further flexibilities, it will look less like leadership and more like hesitation at exactly the moment the market needs certainty.

“Any softening of the framework risks slowing EV uptake, creating greater uncertainty for infrastructure investment, and making it harder to justify rollout in lower-utilization and harder-to-serve locations. That would directly disadvantage the drivers and communities who are relying on public charging to make the switch.”