Overview
- The Department for Transport launched a consultation on Friday that asks whether the 2030 ZEV mandate should be reduced from 80% to 70%, 60% or 50% or kept at 80% with longer compliance flexibilities.
- Ministers say the legal end point of phasing out new petrol and diesel cars in 2030 is unchanged and the review is intended to make the mandate more practical for industry.
- Manufacturers and franchised dealers welcomed the review as relief from pricing pressure and forced discounting, while charging firms, EV businesses and environmental groups warned that weakening the rule could deter private capital for chargers.
- Analysts and campaigners say the most aggressive cut could remove millions of projected BEV sales—the ECIU estimates up to about 5.8 million fewer EVs—and make the 2035 full zero‑emission goal harder to reach.
- The consultation runs until 23 October, the government has pledged further support for charging rollout and home charger grants, and ministers will decide next steps in the months after responses are assessed.