The UK mandates that 22% of manufacturers’ vehicle sales must have zero tailpipe emissions this year, rising to 80% by 2030. Dealers face £15,000 fines for each non-compliant vehicle sold, while EVs only made up 16% of sales in the first five months. Most EV purchases are by corporate fleets, with actual retail demand likely lower. The CEO of Vertu Motors highlighted the potential for massive fines, and Peugeot and Citroen’s owner threatened to halt UK production in protest of the stringent targets.
- ZEV Mandate:
- Starting from January 1, 2024, manufacturers in the UK must ensure that 22% of all new cars they sell are zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs).
- This percentage will gradually increase over the years: 28% in 2025, 33% in 2026, 38% in 2027, 52% in 2028, 66% in 2029, and finally reaching 80% in 2030.
- By 2035, all new cars sold in the UK will be required to be ZEVs, effectively banning new hybrid cars as well .
- Penalties for Non-Compliance:
- Manufacturers failing to meet these targets will face fines.
- Interestingly, the fine for vans exceeding the quota in 2024 has been reduced from £18,000 to £9,000, likely due to industry lobbying .
- Challenges and Backlash:
- Some car companies have expressed concerns about the 22% quota for 2024, fearing it may impact production levels due to insufficient consumer demand for EVs.
- Peugeot and Citroen’s CEO, Carlos Tavares, even threatened to halt vehicle production in the UK in protest against these targets .
UK EV quotas ….(this is crazy)
Vehicles with zero tailpipe emissions must comprise 22% of manufacturers' sales this year, with the percentage rising to 80% by 20230
If you are a dealer in the UK…you will have to pay fines of £15K for every non-compliant vehicle sold
EVs… pic.twitter.com/5d0lXONptr
— Tracy Shuchart (𝒞𝒽𝒾 ) (@chigrl) July 3, 2024