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

Reported target change

The British government is expected to cut its electric vehicle sales target for 2030 by about a quarter to around 60 percent, the Guardian reported on Sunday, citing government sources, according to Reuters.

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 percent of new car sales in 2026, rising to 80 percent in 2030 and 100 percent by 2035.

Government response

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.

Haigh will probably approve a 2030 target of about 60 percent 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.

Industry context

The 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 percent of new car sales year to date, compared with the 33 percent target for 2026, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said last week.

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

Why it matters

The proposed change would lower the 2030 ZEV sales target from 80 percent to around 60 percent, responding to carmaker concerns about meeting the current mandate.

Sources

• ft.com: Subscribe to read
• uk.finance.yahoo.com: UK government expected to cut 2030 EV sales target to 60%, Guardian reports

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.