UK government set to cut 2030 EV sales target to 60%, reports say
The UK government is expected to cut its 2030 EV sales target from 80% to around 60%, according to reports. The Guardian said on Sunday that ministers are preparing to ease the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate. Louise Haigh, described as the de facto deputy prime minister, will reportedly finalise the plan after a meeting in Downing Street on Wednesday 11 November. The move would relieve pressure on carmakers, but could also anger campaigners, charging companies and many Labour MPs.
Downing Street has not confirmed the plan. “The government is united in its commitment to the ZEV mandate, and no decisions have been taken,” a spokesperson told Reuters. This article explains what the current rules demand, why a cut looks likely and how the EU’s recent move fits in.
What does the ZEV Mandate currently require?
The ZEV Mandate started in 2024. It requires manufacturers to sell a rising share of zero-emission vehicles each year. In the first year, 22% of new cars and 10% of vans had to be electric. The car target then climbs to 28% in 2025 and 33% in 2026. It reaches 38% in 2027, 52% in 2028, 66% in 2029 and 80% in 2030. By 2035, every new car and van sold must be zero-emission.
Manufacturers that miss their targets face fines. Cars now carry a penalty of up to £12,000 each, down from the original £15,000. Flexibilities soften the blow, because carmakers can use credits to offset shortfalls, and hybrids can stay on sale until 2035. Those flexibilities matter here, as the reports say Haigh will extend them until 2034.
Why is the government considering a cut?
Carmakers argue that supply chain disruption and weak consumer demand make the targets hard to meet. The numbers support part of their case. The SMMT said last week that battery electric cars made up 26.6% of new registrations so far this year, against a 2026 target of 33%. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes wants “substantive reform effective immediately” to keep the market healthy and attract investors.
The government launched a consultation in August with five options. They ranged from leaving the mandate unchanged to cutting the 2030 target to 70%, 60% or 50%. According to the Guardian, Whitehall is split. Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds reportedly wants the steepest cut, to 50%. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander is said to favour 60%. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is reportedly campaigning to keep 80%. He was energy secretary when ministers finalised the current mandate in 2024. Haigh will settle the dispute at Wednesday’s meeting.
Critics have plenty to say. The charging industry relies on strong EV sales to recoup its investment, and Labour MPs are expected to push back. Government analysis expected the mandate to deliver 14% of the targeted CO2 reductions between 2028 and 2032, so a weaker target leaves a gap to fill. The timing is also awkward. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing for his first Cop summit, where he is expected to promote electrification worldwide.
Is the EU’s emissions change connected?
No report links the two decisions directly, but the timing matters. On 4 November, the European Parliament’s environment committee voted to weaken the EU’s 2035 car target to 87.5%. Credits for low-carbon EU steel could take the effective figure to 95%. We covered the vote in detail. The committee text still needs a full Parliament vote in December, and it has no legal force in the UK.
Even so, it strengthens the lobbying case. UK carmakers have criticised the government for diverging from EU policy. Many cars and vans on British depots also come from European factories, so EU rules shape the models and prices on offer. Even with a 60% target, Britain would still end sales of petrol and diesel-only cars in 2030, five years before the EU’s softer deadline. Supporters of the 80% target will use that point.
When will the decision be final?
Reports point to Wednesday 11 November. Haigh will reportedly sign off the plan after the Downing Street meeting, and Autocar says she could reveal the new mandate within days. However, the government has promised a formal response to the consultation by the end of 2026, and Downing Street insists nothing is settled. Plans can still change after a heated Whitehall meeting. The spokesperson also stressed that the review will not alter the 2035 target for all new car and van sales to be zero-emission.
Industry Reaction
A lower target would give manufacturers more room to sell petrol, diesel and hybrid models. For fleet operators, that could widen vehicle choice. It could also reduce the pressure on manufacturers to discount electric models, which would affect whole-life costs. We cannot confirm either outcome until the government publishes its decision.
Industry voices urge calm. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has said, “the end goal hasn’t changed”, and Venson’s Simon Staton says, “the 2035 destination hasn’t changed”. Others fear damage. Thom Groot of The Electric Car Scheme warned, “Diluting the ZEV mandate is a massive own goal. Consumer demand for EVs is growing, proof that the appetite is absolutely there. Through salary sacrifice alone, we’ve seen demand for new EVs double in the past year.
“Consumers and manufacturers alike need consistency to plan and invest. Watering down these targets would only benefit those who haven’t taken them seriously from the start. I would like the Government to channel the momentum already gained into focusing on innovations and incentives that make EVs more accessible.”
Delvin Lane, CEO of InstaVolt, said, “This is speculation at this stage, and we need to see what the Government actually proposes. We recognise there is a balance to be struck between protecting jobs in the automotive industry and maintaining ambitious targets for the transition.
“But let’s be clear: charging infrastructure is not the problem. The industry needs to stop using it as an excuse for weakening the rules. We are delivering infrastructure ahead of schedule, investing billions and building a network ready to support more drivers making the switch.
“Almost one in three new cars sold in October was fully electric. The market is moving, and drivers can have confidence that the charging infrastructure is there and will continue to grow.
“What businesses need now is certainty, not another round of shifting goalposts.”
