Analysis by Transport&Environment (T&E) has concluded that all car manufacturers operating in the UK have successfully complied with the UK’s electric car sales mandate.
Based on car sales figures from Dataforce, the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate accelerated electric car (BEV) market share to 19.6% in 2024.
This was below the headline target of 22% but exceeding the 18% required for compliance when flexibilities in the law are counted.
T&E said the flexibilities secured by the car industry are sufficient to ensure future compliance and the government should resist calls to weaken the mandate further.
The report stated that Hyundai, Stellantis, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, SAIC, and Geely (Volvo, Lotus, Polestar) complied by both increasing EV sales and reducing the average emissions of the combustion engines they sold, the analysis finds.
VW, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, Toyota, Ford, JLR (Tata Motors), Honda, Mazda, and Suzuki will need to supplement EV sales and emissions reductions by either borrowing credits from future years or purchasing them from overcompliant manufacturers.
December 2024, the government launched a consultation on the ZEV mandate which included questions on flexibilities which would weaken the stringency of the ZEV mandate.
T&E said it is crucial that the government maintains the mandate’s ambition – both for consumers and regulatory certainty for the UK automotive industry.
T&E suggests that as the ZEV mandate will increase in ambition, carmakers are planning to introduce over a dozen EV models cheaper than £23,000.
If the mandate is weakened, these models risk being prioritised for other markets.
Director of T&E UK Anna Krajinska said: “Carmakers are meeting the ZEV mandate despite all the complaints.”
“The result is a growing UK EV market and lots of cheaper models for consumers to go electric.
“The Government must stand firm against calls to water down the law and instead focus on delivering a robust industrial strategy for the automotive sector.”
Achievements and innovations in EV charging infrastructure will be recognised and celebrated at the fourth annual CiTTi Awards on 26 November 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector!
