Even after successfully meeting the UK’s 2024 electric car sales targets, major automakers launched a concerted lobbying effort to have the rules weakened for future years. Documents reveal that companies like Nissan and BMW argued the pace of the mandatory transition was too fast, despite evidence of their own compliance.
The industry’s core argument was that meeting the targets had come at a high cost. Due to slower-than-anticipated consumer demand, they had been forced to slash prices on electric models, a practice they deemed unsustainable. They warned the government that continuing with the strict mandate would harm profits and risk UK investment.
In its private submission, Toyota claimed the potential financial penalties for non-compliance were severe enough to place “employment and investment across the industry at risk.” This message was echoed by the industry’s lobby group, the SMMT, which stated the original plan would have meant “decarbonisation at the cost of de-industrialisation.”
Advocates for a faster transition have seized on this apparent contradiction. Ben Nelmes of New Automotive stated that the industry’s own consultation responses “confirm that the ZEV mandate’s 2024 targets were met, proving the policy is a powerful driver of change.” For them, the lobbying success represents a missed opportunity to build on early momentum.